^-.Jfe** 


ALICE  ASHLAND 

A   ROMANCE    OF   THE 
WORLD'S  FAIR 


EDITH    NEVILLE 


iv'r-itten  for  "  Once   a  'l]'eek  Library 


New  York 
PETER  FENELON  COLLIER 

1893 


Peteji  Fk; 


f! 


ALICE  ASHLAND. 


CHAPTER  I. 


The  Great  White  City  which  had  sprung- 
into  existence,  as  if  by  the  touch  of  a  magi- 
cian's wand,  on  tlie  southwest  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan,  and  known  the  wide  world  over  as  the 
i(  World's  Fair,"  built  in  honor  of  the  four  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  America 
by  that  great  navigator,  Christopher  Colum- 
bus, had  been  opened,  as  the  go-ahead  people  of 
Chicago  said  it  would  be,  on  the  first  day  of 
May,  1893.  President  Cleveland  had  touched 
the  button,  made  his  speech  and  departed.  The 
Duke  and  Duchess  of  Veragua,  representative 
of  Columbus  at  the  g-reatest  show  on  earth,  had 
been  wined  and  dined  ;  and  Eulalie,  Infanta  of 
Spain,  had  been  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of 
Western  society,  and  the  woolly  West  had  seen 
for  the  first  time  a  real,  live  princess  and  was 
satisfied.  The  great  and  distinguished  visitors 
had  gone,  and  the  Fair  was  left  in  possession  of 
the  hundreds  of  thousands  who  had  journeyed 

*3 


4  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

over  land  and  sea  to  see  the  might}'  collection 
of  exhibits,  and  representatives  of  every  coun- 
try' under  the  sun  were  doing  homage  to  Chi- 
cago. 

The  opening  scene  in  our  story  does  not  com- 
mence, however,  at  the  Fair  itself,  but  at  one 
of  the  fashionable  racecourses  of  Chicago 
known  as  the  *' Hawthorne"  track,  partly 
owned  and  managed  by  that  prince  of  sport, 
Edward  Corrigan,  better  known  in  the  Windy 
City  as  ''The  Master  of  Hawthorne."  Thou- 
sands of  visitors  to  the  Fair,  tired  of  the  vain 
attempt  to  see  everything  it  contained,  occa- 
sionally took  a  day  off  and  visited  some  other 
interesting  spot  in  or  around^Chicago.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  day  on  which  our  story  begins 
several  thousand  visitors  and  permanent  Chi- 
cagoans  had  journeyed  to  Hawthorne  to  wit- 
ness the  contests  of  thoroughbreds,  and  the 
scene  was  one  not  easily  forgotten  —  the  grand 
stand  literally  packed  with  ladies  and  gentle- 
men gayly  attired,  and  the  grounds  swarming 
with  a  mass  of  struggling  humanity,  at  this 
particular  moment  straining  every  nerve  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  favorite  as  he  flies  past 
in  the  preliminary  canter.  The  last  bugle  has 
sounded,  all  the  horses  are  at  the  post,  and 
after  two  or  three  breakaways  there  is  a  wild 
yell  of  "  They're  off  .'"  as  the  horses  dash  away 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  5 

to  a  magnificent  start,  and  the  great  and  last 
race  of  the  day  had  begun. 

"I  tell  you,  Mar}^"  said  a  gentleman  in  the 
grand  stand,  to  a  lad^'^  by  his  side,  **  I  tell  you 
if  Gendarme  doesn't  win  I'll  be  stone  broke." 

"More  fool  you,"  replied  the  lady,  keeping 
her  glasses  on  the  flying  steeds. 

The  horses  sweep  past  the  grand  stand, 
stretching  across  the  track  from  rail  to  rail, 
almost  in  a  perfect  line,  but  the  favorite  Gen- 
darme soon  drops  back,  and  Sterling,  an  eight- 
to-one  shot,  rushes  to  the  front.  As  they 
swing  round  the  first  turn  a  quickening  of  pace 
and  a  change  of  position  shows  the  favorite 
creeping  up,  and  wild  yells  of  "  Gendarme  !  " 
are  heard  on  every  side.  Rosemont  and  Min- 
nie Beach  have  fallen  back,  and  before  they 
are  half-way  up  the  back  stretch  the  others  are 
hopelessly  beaten. 

Platoni,  with  his  merciless  whip  and  spurs, 
has  driven  Gendarme  close  to  the  flying  leader. 
Every  moment  the  pace  is  quickening,  and  a  yell 
announces  that  the  favorite  has  passed  the  out- 
sider. 

"  That  saves  me  !  "  ejaculates  the  young 
man  in  the  grand  stand. 

"Not  yet,  Wilfred.  Sterling  is  catching 
him."  A  cry  from  the  enormous  crowd  bore 
out  the  lady's  words.     "  Look  at  Gendarme  !  " 


6  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

The  great  horse  has  fallen  back  so  swiftly  that 
before  his  startled  backers  can  echo  the  cry  he 
has  been  passed  by  Rosemont  and  Gold.  The 
leaders  are  fully  ten  lengths  away  before  Plan- 
toni  once  more  rallies  the  great  horse  and  sets 
out  in  pursuit.  They  are  now  in  the  last  one 
hundred  j^ards  of  the  race.  Sterling  has  again 
assumed  the  lead,  but  Rosemont  is  at  his 
saddle-girths  and  the  favorite  three  lengl^hs 
awaj^,  seeming  to  catch  the  leaders  at  every 
stride.  The  excitement  has  become  intense. 
Friends  of  the  favorite  are  shrieking  encour- 
agement to  his  jockey.  Women  are  waving 
handkerchiefs  hysterically.  The  air  is  full  of 
cries.  A  few  more  strides  and  Gendarme  is  at 
Rosemont's  side ;  wild  and  wilder  grow  the  yells 
of  ''Gendarme  wins  !  Gendarme  wins !  "  and  now 
the  gallant  animal  is  neck  and  neck  with  the 
leader,  whose  jockey  has  been  sitting-  through- 
out the  race  almost  motionless  in  the  saddle ; 
now"  he  is  seen  to  lean  slightly  forward  and 
bring  his  whip  across  Sterling-^s  flank,  and 
that  noble  horse,  responding  gamely  to  the  call, 
springs  away  from  the  favorite  and  with 
astounding  ease  canters  in  a  winner  by  a  full 
length.  Gendarme,  after  one  of  the  greatest 
races  ever  run  at  Hawthorne,  finished  second 
by  a  head  from  Rosemont ;  the  rest  were  no- 
where. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  7 

The  result  was  too  surprising-  to  be  applauded  ; 
it  required  a  minute  or  two  before  the  aston- 
ished crowd  could  catch  its  breath.  Then  the 
winner  was  heartily  and  enthusiasticallj^ 
cheered. 

''Well,  Mr.  Nevin,  I'm  sorry  j^ou  lost/'  said 
a  slig-ht,  eleg-ant  woman  by  the  side  of  the  gen- 
tleman in  the  grand  stand,  who  was,  at  the 
opening  of  the  race,  so  interested  in  the  favor- 
ite ;  '''  but  hand  me  my  wrap  ;  Mary,  let  us  be 
going.     What  is  she  looking  at,  Mr.  Nevin?" 

The  lady  addressed  had  been  for  a  minute  or' 
so  gazing-  through  her  race-glass  at  some  per- 
son or  persons  standing-  near  the  judge's  box, 
and  now,  turning-  to  Nevin,  she  handed  the 
glass  to  him. 

"  I  wish,"  she  said,  ''you  would  look  at  that 
man  who  is  leaning  against  the  fence  with  the 
brown  straw  hat  on.  I  really  believe  it  is  Har- 
old Neale." 

"  I  daresay  it  is.  He  is  in  Chicago,  I  know," 
taking  the  glass  and  looking  as  she  directed. 

'•'Yes,"  he  said,  "it  is  Neale;  you  have  a 
good  memory,  Mary." 

"  It  is  a  long  time  since  I  saw  Harold  Neale, 
and  he  is  a  good  deal  changed.  Why  did  you 
not  bring  him  to  see  me  ?  " 

"  I  never  thought  of  it,"  said  Nevin. 


8  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

''Well,  g-o  to  him  now,  like  a  good  boy,  and 
invite  him  to  supper." 

Nevin  raised  his  ej'^ebrows,  put  on  an  air  of 
submission  and  left  the  seat. 

"  You  have  a  very  obedient  brother,  Mary," 
said  the  first  speaker. 

''Yes,  Mrs.  Wainwright,"  returned  the  lady 
addressed,  "  every  one  obe3'^s  me." 

'•  Except  Major  Craven,"  cried  Mrs.  Wain- 
w  right. 

"  That,  of  course.  I  promised  to  obey  him," 
'said  Mrs.  Craven,  a  smile  parting-  her  ripe  red 
lips  and  showing  the  white,  regular  teeth 
within.  She  was  a  handsome  likeness  of  her 
brother,  Wilfred  Nevin,  with  more  vitality. 

"  Come  !  "  resumed  Mrs.  Craven,  "  let  us  go. 
Mr.  Stetson  "  (to  a  gentleman  by  her  side  who 
had  been  too  interested  in  the  racing  to  talk), 
"you  can  find  the  carriage,  and  Wilfred  must 
come  on  the  best  way  he  can  ;  I  do  hope  he 
brings  Harold  Neale." 

Mr.  Stetson  was  most  active  and  energetic, 
and  the  carriage  was  quickly  brought  up,  and 
the  owner,  with  her  fair  friend,  carefully  hand- 
ed in  by  the  devoted  Stetson. 

"  I  shall  be  at  home  to-morrow  ;  come  and 
have  a  cup  of  tea.  Good-by,"  said  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven, as  the  carriage  rolled  off. 

"  What  a  shame  not  to  ask  the  poor  fellow  to 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  9 

supper  !  "  said  Mrs.  Wainwrig-ht.  *'  He  really 
earns  his  bread  (his  bread  of  life)  very  hardly." 

"  Nonsense  !  "  returned  Mrs.  Craven  ;  "  four 
are  companj',  five  an  unpleasant  solitude ;  be- 
sides, I  have  g-iven  him  his  g-uerdon ;  tea  with 
us  is  payment  in  full.  I  do  not  want  him  to- 
night." 

"  Oh,  it  is  to  be  a  double  tete-a-tete  ?  As 
you  like.  But  who  is  this  mj^sterious  Harold 
Neale?" 

"Harold  Neale,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  slowly, 
"^  is  the  son  of  some  people  who  occupy  a  farm 
close  to  ours,  at  Peekskill-on-the-Hudson.  He 
was  my  first — well,  nearly  my  love." 

''Your  first  love!  and  you  remember  him  ! 
This  is  interesting-." 

"  I  assure  you  he  was  very  interesting,  and 
so  desperately  in  earnest.  He  was  ready  to 
brave  the  wrath  of  all  the  Nevins  if  I  would 
onl}' run  away  with  him.  I  answered  him  by 
marrying  Major  Craven." 

''  A  very  wise  solution.  What  a  nuisance  it 
is,  Mary,  that  nice  men  never  have  any 
money  !  " 

''  Well,  rarel}' ;  but  the  Neales  are  fairlj^  well 
off,"  responded  Mrs.  Craven,  with  a  sig-h. 

'  •'  And  where  has  xomy  young-  hero  been  hiding- 
himself?" 

'•'  I  don't  know.     He  was  a  medical  student  in 


10  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

Philadelphia,  but  he  broke  away  and  went  West 
to  Dakota  or  Pug-et  Sound  :  in  short,  he  was  in 
disgrace  with  ever}'-  one,  so  we  quite  lost  sight 
of  him." 

"  Ah  !  I  suppose  remorse  for  having  ruined 
his  life  presses  on  your  sourl." 

"  Indeed  it  does  not ;  but  he  was  a  delightful 
lover." 

"1  feel  curious  to  see  th^s  hero,"  said  Mrs. 
Wainwright,  yawning.  ''  What  are  we  to  have 
for  supper  ?     I'm  hungry." 

"  I  scarcely  know.  The  usual  sort  of  thing, 
I  suppose." 

"  My  dear,  with  yonv  means  you  should  aim 
at  uncommon  things." 

A  little  more  disjointed  talk  brought  them  to 
a  residence  in  Evanston  that  Major  Graven  had 
rented  for  the  World's  Fair  season. 

'^'I  find  it  rather  warm,'*  said  Mrs.  Craven, 
as  they  entered  the  house.  Then  taking  a 
silver  matchbox  from  the  mantelpiece  and 
lighting  the  candles  in  the  girandoles  at  each 
side  of  the  glass,  she  looked  steadily  at  her  own 
image  for  a  minute,  and  then  turned  away  with 
a  slight  smile. 

**You  think  you'll  do?  "  asked  Mrs.  Wain- 
wright, who  had  been  watching  her  lazily.  "  Is 
the  3^oung  man  from  the  Hudson  to  be  immo- 
lated over  again  ?  ". 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  11 

Mrs.  Craven  laughed — a  pleasant,  joj^ous 
laugh. 

*•'  Certainly  not ;  but  I  am  glad  my  old  ad- 
mirer will  not  be  able  to  say  :  '  Poor  Mary  is 
awfully  gone  off.  Six  or  seven  years  are  some- 
thing of  a  trial  to  the  best  complexion,  added 
to  late  hours  and  a  rapid  rate' of  living.'  " 

''Too  true  !"  cried  Mrs.  Wainwright.  "You 
make  me  shiver.  Here  am  I,  a  destitute  widow 
for  more  than  three  years,  and  I  have  only  en- 
joyed, not  improved,  the  shining  hour.  I  really 
must  find — " 

'•' I  hear  a  hack  or  something  stop,"  inter- 
rupted Mrs.  Craven,  quickly.  ''  Come,  let  us 
not  seem  to  have  waited  for  them." 

But  she  had  not  yet  taken  her  seat  when 
"Mr.  Nevin  and  Mr.  Neale  "  Avere  announced, 
and  she  went  forward  to  greet  her  early  lover. 

"  After  long  j^ears  !  "  she  said,  holding  out 
her  hand,  with  a  soft  smile.  "  I  am  very  glad 
to  see  you,  Mr.  Neale." 

Harold  Neale  was  tall,  broad  and  largely 
built.  He  was  dark,  either  naturally  or  from 
exposure,  with  nearly  black  hair  and  deep  gray 
steady  eyes ;  there  was  a  certain  dignity  of 
strength  in  his  figure  and  movements  which 
also  gave  him  the  air  of  being  taller  than  he 
really  was. 

"  You  are  very  good  to  give  me  this  pleas- 


12  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

ure,"  replied  Neale,  holding-  her  hand  for  just  a 
second.  "I  was  most  ag-reeably  surprised 
when  Wilfred  brought  me  your  invitation." 

'*  Which  I  could  hardly  persuade  him  to  ac- 
cept," said  Nevin;  "and,  ladies,  we  had  quite 
an  adventure  on  the  road  back." 

''What  was  it?  let's  hear!"  cried  Mrs. 
Wain w right,  excitedly. 

'•'  Well,  while  Harold  and  myself  were  wait- 
ing for  a  coupe  there  was  a  commotion  among 
the  crowd,  and  every  one  began  to  scatter  like 
mice  out  of  a  stack,  and  along  the  road  came  a 
horse  and  buggy  tearing  like  mad,  an  old  gen- 
tleman and  a  young  woman  were  clinging  panic- 
stricken  to  the  seat,  powerless  to  grasp  the 
reins  which  trailed  on  the  road.  Seeing  that  a 
collision  would  probably  mean  instant  death,  I 
sprang  into  the  road,  and  just  as  the  maddened 
animal,  made  madder  still  by  the  crowd,  was 
dashing  past  I  fortunately  grabbed  the  reins, 
and  after  a  severe  struggle  finally  succeeded  in 
stopping  *him  ;  the  young  lady  was  in  a  dead 
faint,  but  the  old  gent  thanked  me  heartily  and 
insisted  on  having  my  card." 

"How  very  interesting,"  cried  Mrs.  Wain- 
wright,  "but  it  seems  to  have  upset  your 
nerves,  or  you  would  introduce  me  to  your 
friend  ;  your  sister  seems  to  have  forgotten  my 
existence." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  13 

"You  must  forgive  me,"  said  Mrs.  Craven. 
'^  Let  me  introduce  my  old  friend  and  playfellow 
to  you,  Mrs.  Wainwrig-ht.  Mr.  Neale,  Mrs. 
Wainwright." 

The  well-assorted  party  sat  down  to  dinner. 

''How  is  Major  Craven?"  asked  Harold 
Neale,  after  draining  a  glass  of  wine. 

"  He  is  quite  well,  I  hope.  Perhaps  you 
think  I  ought  not  to  have  a  supper  party  with- 
out him.  Pray  remember  it  is  a  family  affaii" 
I  have  my  brother's  august  protection,  aiid 
you" — turning  her  soft  eyes  full  on  his — "al- 
most belong  to  us.  My  husband  is  in  New 
York ;  he  is  always  going  to  and  fro.  I  hope 
to  introduce  you  to  him  on  his  return." 

"  Thank  you.  I  shall  not  stay  much  longer 
in  Chicago." 

"  Oh,  you  must  not  run  away  so  soon  ;  really 
the  Fair  is  very  delightful/"' 

And  thus  conversing  on  the  past  and  specu- 
lating on  the  future,  the  quartette  contrived  to 
pass  a  merry  evening. 


14  ALICE  ASHLAND. 


CHAPTER    II. 


Harold  Neale  was  bus3'  writing*  letters 
about  two  weeks  after  the  events  of  the  pre- 
ceding- chapter,  and  had  laid  down  his  pen 
before  answering-  an  invitation  to  dinner  from 
Major  and  Mrs.  Craven  for  the  following  Fri- 
day. 

*•  I  suppose  I  must  accept,"  he  said  to  him- 
self. "  I  have  refused  a  musical  evening  and  a 
party  at  Wilson's.  I  should  like  to  see  Marj^'s 
husband.  It  is  a  droll  idea  to  meet  him,  too, 
without  anj'  deadly  intentions.  Come  in,"  in- 
terrupting- himself  as  some  one  knocked  at  the 
door. 

"  A  gentleman  wants  to  know  if  you'll  see 
him,  sir,"  said  a  waiter,  presenting  a  card 
which  bore  the  name  of  ^*  Wilfred  Nevin." 

'•'Yes;  show  him  up."  And  in  a  few  min- 
utes Wilfred  walked  in. 

"  I  was  just  thinking  of  looking  you  up," 
cried  Neale,  shaking  hands  with  him.  ''  I  have 
not  seen  anj^thing  of  you  since  we  supped  to- 
gether at  Mrs.  Craven's.  I  thought  you  would 
have  come  with  me  to  the  '  Home  Rule  '  meet- 
ing to — " 

''  Bah  !     I  have  been  otherwise  engaged,"  in- 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  15 

terrupted  Nevin,  with  some  solemnity,  as  he 
drew  a  chair  opposite  his  friend. 

Neale  looked  at  him,  half  amused  at  the  min- 
gled expression  of  triumph  and  uneasiness  in 
his  ej'es. 

'-'I  have  been  very  seriously  occupied,"  re- 
peated Nevin. 

"  What  have  you  been  about  ?  " 

''I  have  been  securing- a  wife.  I  have  been 
finding  the  means  of  living." 

'^  What  do  3^ou  mean  ?  " 

"  You  remember  that  accident  ?  " 

^'Yes." 

"  Well,  the  old  gentleman  who  was  driving  the 
girl  that  day  was  her  guardian,  and  you  maj^  well 
be  astonished  when  I  tell  you  that  he  instituted 
inquiries  about  their  savior.  Having  deter- 
mined that  my  pedigree  was  O.  K.,  he  wrote, 
inviting  me  to  call.  I  called,  and  after  thank- 
ing me  effusively  for  my  gallant  conduct  in 
stopping  the  runaways,  he  coolly  told  me  that 
the  young  lady  was  '  for  sale  ' ;  to  be  plain 
about  it,  she  is  an  orphan,  the  niece  of  a  Cali- 
fornia millionaire,  and  her  two  guardians,  of 
whom  the  pompous  old  gent  is  one,  have  been 
looking  for  a  suitable  husband  for  the  girl  so  as 
to  get  rid  of  her,  and  the  trouble  she  and  her 
legacy  give  them.  Guardian  No.  1  is  satisfied 
with  me,  and  Guardian  No.  2  received  me  yes- 


IG  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

terday,  and  we  g-ot  on  very  well,  and  it  is  agreed 
I  am  to  be  officially  introduced  to  the  j^oung- 
Isidy  to-morrow.'' 

*' But  you  are  not  in  earnest?  You  would 
not  select  a  wife  in  this  fashion?" 

''  Why  not  ?  What  is  worse  in  it  than  being 
introduced  by  —  say  my  sister  —  to  an  heiress 
with  a  view  to  matrimony  ?  It  is  the  same  sort 
of  operation  more  openly  and  satisfactorily  con- 
ducted. I,  too,  have  been  looking  into  matters, 
and  it  is  a  bona  fide  ready  money  affair.  In 
short,  I  am  inclined  to  think  my  luck  has 
turned.'" 

''  And  the  3'oung  lady  ?  " 

Nevin  made  a  grimace.  *'  I  haven't  seen  her 
since  the  accident,  and  as  she  fainted,  she  won't 
remember  me,  and  I'm  sure  I  wouldn't  know 
her.  I  only  hope  she's  not  too  utterly  utter.  If 
she  is,  why  I'll  cry  off.  But,  Harold,  she  has 
close  on  two  hundred  thousand  a  year.  That 
will  cover  a  host  of  defects.  Then  there  are 
many  compensations  for  the  most  devoted  hus- 
band, and  I  intend  to  be  a  model.  She  shall 
spend  a  fair  share  of  her  own  money  as  she 
likes,  while  I  shall  amuse  myself  my  own  w&y — 
in  moderation." 

''You  are  old  enough  to  take  care  of  your- 
self," said   Neale  ;  "1  confess  I   feel  most  for 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  17 

the  girl.  I  suppose  she  knows  nothing-  about 
this  precious  scheme  ?  " 

"  Hasn't  the  faintest  suspicion.  She  will  be 
enchanted  with  me,  if  I  choose  ;  I  always  get 
on  with  women,  and  Miss  Ashland  (her  name  is 
Ashland)  has  been  secluded  all  her  sixteen 
years.  Since  the  father's  death  my  future 
spouse  has  lived  in  the  paternal  cottage,  under 
the  care  of  No.  2  guardian's  sister,  and  I  pre- 
sume her  manners  wouldn't  suit  Ward  McAllis- 
ter. I  have  got  Craven's  lawyer  to  look  into 
the  matter,  and  he,  too,  says  it  is  a  bona  fide 
concern." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence. 

''  Why  don't  you  congratulate  me,  Har- 
old ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  may  later  on  ;  at  present — well, 
I  don't  like  the  scheme.  But  I  suppose  I  take 
things  too  seriously.  I  daresay  a  marriage  of 
this  kind  is  no  worse  than  a  large  proportion  of 
those  which  occur  every  day." 

"  On  the  contrar}^,  it  is  a  great  deal  better — 
less  nonsense  and  more  reality.  You  are  quite 
too  desperately  in  earnest — always,  were,  so 
Mary  says.  ]3y  the  way,  she  is  quite  taken  up 
with  my  plans.  Will  you  come  with  me  and 
support  me  in  this  crisis  of  my  fate  ?  " 

"Where?" 

'' At  the  Fair  to-morrow,  in  the  French  :!' 


18  ALICE    ASHLAND. 

g-aUery,  at  2  p.m...  to  meet  the  object  of  my 
adoration.  She  and  Mr.  Watts,  the  superior 
guardian,  will  be  there.  Really  it  will  be  fun 
for  you  to  see  the  meeting." 

"  I  will  come,"  said  Neale,  slowl3\  ^' Where 
shall  I  find  you?" 

"Oh,  pick  me  up  at  the  Auditorium.  We'll 
have  a  glass  of  sherry  to  keep  up  our  spirits. 
You  see,  if  the  thing  can  be  managed  it  wTll  be 
a  great  chance  for  me.  I  am  pretty  well  at 
my  wit's  end.  Indeed,  I  must  raise  funds  to 
carry  out  this  scheme.  Do  3^ou  happen  to  have 
a  few  hundreds,  Neale,  you  would  like  to  lend  at 
high  interest  ?  ' ' 

"Certainly  not,"  with  a  grim  smile.  "I  like 
you  too  much,  old  fellow,  to  have  any  transac- 
tions of  that  sort  with  you." 

"Niggard!"  cried  Nevin,  in  mock  heroic 
tones.  "Well,  I  must  sell  one  of  my  horses. 
In  short,  the  only  chance  left  me  is  this  mar- 
riage. If  it  fails — but  it  must  not  fail.  Now  I 
have  to  escort  Mrs.  Wainwright  to  a  garden 
party  at  Englewood.  So  good -by  till  to-mor- 
row. Mind  you  don't  fail  me.  You'll  make  a 
respectable  sort  of  sponsor."  With  a  nod  he 
left  the  room. 

Neale  looked  after  his  old  playfellow  with 
something  of  uneasiness  as  he  thought,  "  He 
is  not  to  be  trusted,  I  fear ;  none  of  them  ever 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  19 

were  except  the  old  man.  I  must  see  what  the 
victim  is  hke ;  probabl}^  she  is  an  ordinary 
woman,  to  whom  a  g-ood  name  and  a  higher 
social  position  than  her  own  may  be  all- 
sufiacing-." 

The  next  day  was  ordinary  Chicag-o  weather, 
dull  and  heavy  ;  but  Neale  found  Wilfred  ISTevin 
in  hig-h  spirits  and  faultless  dress,  with  dainty 
g-loves  and  a  delicate  sprig-  of  gardenia  and 
maiden-hair  fern  in  his  button-hole  —  quite  a 
bridegroom-elect,  as  Neale  told  him. 

After  a  second  glass  of  sherry  Nevin  declared 
himself  ready,  and  they  set  out  on  their  impor- 
tant quest. 

Arriving  at  Jackson  Park,  they  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  the  French  art  gallery,  which  was 
crowded  to  the  doors.  Elbowing  their  way  in, 
Neale  looked  eagerly  round,  seeking  some  figure 
that  might  answer  to  the  idea  he  had  formed  of 
Wilfred's  intended  bride. 

There  were  a  variety  of  visitors  :  here  and 
there  the  gay  Parisians  fluttered  in  and  out 
among  the  crowd,  pointing  out  the  beauties  of 
'^Arteraio  "  by  Mons.  Wencker,  or  that  ghoul- 
ish fable,  ''  Dealrit  and  the  Woodchopper"  ;  here 
could  be  seen  the  stolid  German  from  Unter  den 
Linden,  taking  side  glances  at  *' Saintpierre's 
Venus  "  having  her  sandals  put  on,  the  indif- 
ferent  and  lanky   Australian  with  his ''bride 


20  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

from  the  bush,"  the  weary  Cockney  gazing 
through  his  eyeglass  at  '^Panaderos/'  and  a 
motley  but  nevertheless  interesting  crowd  of 
Austrians,  Swiss,  Russians,  Poles,  and  in  fact 
representatives  of  every  nation  and  clime  un- 
der the  sun.  Harold  Neale's  eyes  rolled  over 
the  crowd  evidently  unsatisfied  till  they  were 
arrested  by  a  group  which  stood  before  one  of 
the  gems  of  the  collection  —  a  large,  breez}^ 
upland  covered  with  trees  and  grass,  some  cat- 
tle grazing  in  the  foreground  and  gathering 
rainclouds  behind.  A  white-haired,  neat  old 
gentleman  was  speaking  to  an  elderly  woman 
who  looked  as  if  she  might  have  been  house- 
keeper in  a  country  family.  A  step  or  two  in 
advance  stood  a  slight  young  girl,  whose  gown 
of  fawn-colored  alpaca  was  somewhat  short  and 
scant ;  she  wore  a  cape  of  black  cashmere  and 
a  rather  broad-rimmed  straw  hat  adorned  with 
a  large  bunch  of  very  stiff  forget-me-nots  ;  the 
whole  costume  bore  tbe  stamp  of  Western  mil- 
linery. A  quaint  little  figure,  yet  Neale's  atten- 
tion was  riveted  to  it.  While  he  looked  Nevin 
touched  him  on  the  shoulder  and  exclaimed  in  a 
deep  whisper  : 

•■'  Good  heavens  !  there  she  is  !  " 

Neale  smiled  at  the  dismayed  expression  of  his 
face. 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  "  he  said. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  21 

"  Because  that  is  old  Watts,  the  guardian, 
with  her  ;  don't  j^ou  see  him  looking  round  for 
the  other  victim  ?  " 

"  He  sees  3'^ou,"  said  Harold. 

Nevin,  raising  his  hat,  started  forward  mth 
a  frank,  pleasant  smile  to  meet  the  old  gentle- 
man who  was  beckoning  him. 

"You  are  a  little  behind  time,  are  you  not, 
sir  ?  "  said  Mr,  Watts,  in  a  low  tone  ;  '*  at  least 
it  seems  a  long  time  since  we  came  into  this 
bewildering  place." 

"  I  flattered  myself  I  was  rather  punctual," 
said  Nevin.  ''  Will  you  allow  me  to  introduce 
an  old  friend  of  mine,  Mr.  ITeale  ?  I  thought  it 
might  be  as  well  to  make  some  of  my  people 
known  to  you." 

"  Certainly,  certainly,"  bowing  with  ancient 
politeness  ;  '*  very  happy  to  know  any  friend  of 
yours,  I  am  sure.  ITow — now  I  will  present 
you.  It  is  really  a  curious  and  somewhat  dar- 
ing experiment,  but  with  a  man  of  honor — a 
— I  have  no  doubt  all  will  go  well.  My  young 
ward  is  quite  taken  up  with  that  picture  of  Bon- 
heur's.  A — A — Alice,  my  dear,"  touching  her 
arm.  She  turned  quickly  and  looked  full  at 
him  with  a  startled  expression,  as  if  suddenly 
recalled  from  another  world,  showing  under 
her  large  hat  a  simple,  pale,  gentle  face,  the 
nose  a    little    upturned,   the    mouth    scarcely 


22  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

s^iall  enoug-h  for  beauty,  the  eyes  dsivk,  but  of 
no  particular  color,  the  hair  light  brown  and 
smooth — an  ordinar^-^  face  enoug-h,  but  pleasant 
and  not  without  a  certain  attraction. 

'L Alice,  this  is  Mr.  Nevin,  the  gentleman 
who  stopped  our  runaways  on  Michigan  Ave- 
nue.    Mr.  Nevin,  Miss  Ashland." 

She  gazed  from  one  to  the  other  and  then 
took  Nevin's  hand,  saying  gently:  "You  do 
not  know  how  thankful  I  am  to  you  for  saving 
my  life."  Nevin  bowed,  and  then,  with  what 
Harold  perceived  to  be  an  effort,  asked  :  "  Is 
this  3'our  first  visit  to  the  Fair  ?  " 

"  No,  not  to  the  Fair,  but  this  is  my  first 
visit  to  the  art  gallery.  I  never  saw  many 
pictures  before,  except  two  or  three  at  home." 

"  There  are  quite  too  many  here  for  com- 
fort ;  you  will  be  very  tired  before  you  leave." 

"  I  feel  a  little  giddy  when  I  look  round, 
certainly,  but  I  should  like  to  staj^  on  and  on 
till  I  saw  every  one." 

"  You  must  come  constantly,  taking  a  rest 
between  your  visits,"  said  Neale,  who  was  de- 
termined to  make  acquaintance  with  the  poor 
little  heiress. 

"  I  should  like  to,  but  it  would  cost  so  much. 
Mrs.  Williams  would  have  to  come,  too,  you 
know." 

"  Still,  I  think  Mr.  Watts  would  not  object," 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  23 

said  Nevin,  looking-  clown  at  her  with  a  caress- 
ing- smile.  "  I  rather  imagine  he  would  find 
it  difficult  to  refuse  you.*' 

''Mr.  Watts — yes,  he  is  very  kind,  but  Mr. 
Bond  is  always  unhappy  about  money/*'  she 
returned,  quite  unconscious  of  the  implied  com- 
pliment ;  and  she  looked  ag-ain  at  the  picl^ure. 

Nevin  seemed  checked,  and,  turning,  ob- 
served politely  to  Mr.  Watts:  "Your  friend 
looks  very  tired.     I  think  I  can  find  her  a  seat." 

''I'm  sure,  sir,  3^ou  are  very  polite,"  said 
the  weary  Mrs.  Williams  g-racefullj^  and  Nevin 
escorted  her  to  a  seat  in  the  center  of  the  room, 
where  she  sat  down  with  a  groan. 

"This  is  a  clever  picture,  "  said  Harold 
Neale,  who  kept  his  place  by  Miss  Ashland. 

"  It  is  wonderful,"  she  said,  in  a  low  tone,  as 
if  absorbed  in  contemplation.  Her  voice  was 
soft  and  her  accent  fairly  good.  "  I  almost  feel 
the  cold  breeze  that  g-enerally  comes  up  with  the 
rain  ;  and  those  distant  blue  hills,  how  far  a. way 
they  look  !  That  is  what  I  cannot  do  when  I 
try  to  paint ;  I  cannot  make  the  distance  look 
far." 

"A  few  months'  study  with  a  good  master 
would  help  you  over  that  difficulty,"  said  Har- 
old, kindly,  a  feeling-  of  compassionate  interest 
drawing-  him  to  the  speaker.  ''You  are  an 
artist,  then  ?  " 


24  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"I  wish  I  were.  Mr.  Watts  has  agrreed  to 
let  me  have  lessons,  and  I  shall  work  hard,  so 
hard."' 

"Work  hard!"  echoed  Nevin,  returning  to 
her  side  as  she  spoke.  ''  What  a  tremendous 
resolution  !  May  I  ask  what  is  the  object  to 
be  attained?  " 

Miss  Ashland  colored  slig-htl}^  and  looked 
down  as  if  she  thoug-ht  he  was  laughing  at 
her. 

''I  want  to  learn  drawing,"  she  said,  simpl5\ 

''Then  Mr.  Watts  must  find  you  a  good  mas-* 
ter.     Has  he  any  idea  whom  to  employ  ?  " 

''Oh,  I  suppose  so." 

"  It's  very  important  to  find  the  right  man," 
said  Nevin,  gravely.  "What  master  do  you 
tnink  of,  Mr.  Watts,  for  Miss  Ashland  ?  " 

"  I  really  have  not  an  idea  on  the  subject," 
replied  Watts,  nervously.  "  I  never  had  any- 
thing to  do  with  art  or  artists.  No  doubt  Mr. 
Bond,  who  is  almost  universally  informed,  will 
be  able  to  Supply  our  needs." 

"  I  don't  fanc3"  art  is  much  in  his  line  either," 
said  Nevin,  with  an  air  of  careless  superiority. 
"  Now  I  know  one  or  two  good  men,  and  shall 
be  most  happy  if  I  can  b3  of  use  to  Miss  Ash- 
I'and." 

"  It  would  be  doing  me  a  great  service,"  cried 
Mr.  Watts,  with  a  look  of  relief.     "  I  have  been 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  25 

a  g-ood  deal  troubled  how  to  gratify  this  whim 
of  my  ward's." 

''  You  must  not  call  it  a  whim,"  said  Nevin, 
smiling-,  and  looking-  down  at  Miss  Ashland  as 
if  %\\Qy  understood  each  other.  ''  It  is  a  lauda- 
ble ambition  and  a  charming-  taste.  Will  j^ou 
allow  me  to  see  some  of  your  drawing's  ?  " 

"  Yes;  then,  if  you  understand  art,  you  can 
tell  me  if  I  am  worth  teaching-,"  she  returned, 
with  quiet  earnestness. 

They  moved  on  to  look  at  the  other  paint- 
ing's, and  Harold  Neale  noticed  that  the  little 
California  g'irl  was  always  attracted  by  the 
best  pictures  and  showed  a  wonderful  amount 
of  discrimination  in  her  observations. 

He  remarked  that  she  did  not  seem  to  care 
for  human  figures  and  faces. 

"I  suppose  it  is  because  I  have  seen  more  of 
the  country  and  four-footed  creatures  than  I 
have  of  people,"  she  returned.  "  It  seems  to 
me  that  I  understand  them  better.  Do  j'-ou 
draw  ?  "  she  asked,  with  some  timidity,  looking 
straight  into  his  eyes  as  she  spoke,  "You  feel 
the  pictures  more  than  he  does,"  and  she  looked 
toward  ISTevin  with  a  little  nod. 

"  He  must  know  more  than  I  do  about  art ;  I 
do  not  draw,  I  only  ignorantly  worship,"  re- 
turned Harold. 

"'  I  am  sorry."     Something  in  her  voice  sug- 


26  ALICE    ASHLAND. 

gested  she  would  prefer  being-  assisted  by  him 
than  by  his  friend. 

"You  will  find  no  lack  of  instructors,  Miss 
Ashland." 

''  The  difficulty  will  be  to  choose  among  the 
multitude,"  said  Nevin. 

''Well,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Watts,  who 
looked  bored  to  death,  and  was  frequently  gaz- 
ing toward  the  door,  "  I  suppose  you  have  seen 
enough  for  one  day,  and  I  —  I  have  an  appoint- 
ment of  some  importance,  a —  " 

''You  are verj'^  tired,"  said  his  ward,  kindly, 
glancing  at  him. 

"Why  lose  your  time  here,  then?"  asked 
Nevin,  blandly.  "We  shall  be  dehghted  to 
take  charge  of  Miss  Ashland  and  Mrs.  —  I  did 
not  catch  the  name — and  see  them  safely  en 
route  home." 

"If  you  would  be  so  good,"  said  Mr.  Watts, 
hesitating. 

"I  do  not  want  to  stay  much  longer,"  said 
Miss  Ashland,  "if  I  can  come  soon  again.  There 
is  a  great  picture  of  a  chariot  race  in  the  next 
room  ;  I  should  like  to  look  at  it,  then  I  shall 
be  quite  ready  to  go." 

"Then  I  shall  bid  you  good-afternoon,  my 
dear,  and  good-by  for  the  present.  I  am  going 
to  Washington  for  a  few  days.  Meantime,  if 
you  need  advice  or  assistance — a— a — you  have 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  2* 

my  excellent  coUeag-ue,  Mr.  Bond,  at  hand. 
Good-day,  Mr.  Nevin ;  g-ood-by,  Mr.  Neale," 
and  with  a  how  to  Mrs.  WiUiams,  who  was 
still  noddinig-  in  the  seat  Nevin  had  found  her, 
the  old  g-entleman  walked  away  with  much 
alacrity. 

'^  Poor  old  fellow  !  it  is  really  too  bad  to  drag- 
him  about.  Don't  you  think  I  might  fill  the 
place  of  guide,  philosopher  and  friend,  and 
leave  him  at  peace  ? ' '  exclaimed  Nevin,  looking 
after  him  with  a  smile. 

''Thank  you,  you  are  verj^  kind.  If  it  would 
not  be  too  much  trouble  I  should  be  so  g-lad  to 
be  shown  some  of  the  things  I  ought  to  see,  and 
I  don't  care  about  these  Fair  guides.  Mrs.  Will- 
iams and  I  feel  lost  here,  and  we  might  almost 
as  well  go  about  blindfolded  as  go  about  alone." 

''  Good.  Then  I  shall  devote  myself  to  j^our 
service  during  the  remainder  of  your  stay. 
What  shall  we  do  to-morrow  ?  Can  we  man- 
age the  Chinese  Theater,  the  Japs'  Village  and 
the  Australian  collection  ?  " 

"If  you  do,  Miss  Ashland  must  have  forty 
horse-power  of  sight-seeing  and  endurance," 
said  Neale,  laughing. 

"I  have  seen  the  AustraUan  exhibits  and  the 
Chinese  Theater,"  returned  Miss  Ashland, 
gravely.  ''I  think  Mrs.  Williams  must  rest 
to-morrow  :  but  could  you  take  me  to  a  school 


28  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

of  art  or  a  drawing-  class?  We  might  find 
out  the  cost  of  lessons  and  go  and  tell  Mr. 
Bond  after.     Do  you  know  Mr.  Bond,  too  ?  " 

"I  have  that  honor" — with  an  air  of  pro- 
found respect.  Miss  Ashland  looked  quickl}^ 
and  keenly  at  him.  "  The  best  plan  is  to  per- 
mit me  to  call  on  you  to-morrow,  at  any  hour 
you  may  appoint,  and  we  can  arrange  our  cam- 
paign. I  shall  in  the  meantime  make  some  in- 
quiries about  studios,  etc." 

"  You  are  very  good,  indeed.  I  feel  so  much 
obliged  to  you."  The  color  came  slowly,  softly 
into  her  cheeks  and  a  very  sweet  smile  parted 
her  lips.  "  I  am  sure  Mr.  Watts  will  be  very 
pleased." 

"  Mr.  Watts  is  very  dear  to  me,"  said  Nevin, 
greatly. 

"  Is  that  so  ?  " 

"Then  you  must  give  me  j^our  address,"  and 
Nevin  took  out  his  note-book. 

''Two  thousand  and  forty  West  Halstead 
Street,"  said  Mrs.  Williams,  who  had  scarcely 
spoken  before,  and  who  now  joined  them.  Her 
accent  was  peculiarly  flat  and  her  voice  of  the. 
sing-song  description,  thoug-h  her  utterance  was 
rapid. 

"Near  Garfield  Park  !  "  said  Nevin.  "Why 
did  they  banish  you  to  so  terrible  a  locality  ?  " 

"Dear  me  !  is  it  that  bad  ?  "  exclaimed  Mrs. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  29 

Williams,  in  much  dismay.  ''Thej^'re  nice 
rooms  and  cost  enough,  I  can  tell  3'ou  —  eight- 
een dollars  a  week  and  fifty  cents  extra  every 
time  3^ou  want  a  fire." 

'•'  The  place  is  perfectly  respectable  I  have  no 
doubt,"  said  Harold  Neale,  laug-hing-.  *'My 
friend  Nevin  is  very  fastidious  ;  anything-  on  the 
West  Side  appears  a  savage  wilderness  to  him." 

"  Don't  believe  him  ;  he's  half  a  savage  him- 
self, Miss  Ashland.  He  has  alwaj^s  lived  in  the 
wilds." 

Miss  Ashland  looked  from  one  to  the  other 
with  a  puzzled  air ;  then,  as  if  wishing  to  atone 
for  what  seemed  to  her  the  rudeness  of  Nevin's 
speech,  she  said  softlj^,  with  a  kind  look  into 
Harold's  face  :  *'  That  is  no  matter ;  it  has 
not  made  you  rude  or  wild." 

"You  little  know  him!"  said  Nevin,  in 
tragic   tones. 

"  You  are  laughing.  Do  you  always  laugh  ?" 
she  asked,  uneasily.  "  Come,  Williams,  let  us 
go  home.  I  think  I  know  the  car  we  came  on, 
and  you  are  too  tired  to  walk." 

"  Walk  !  "  exclaimed  Nevin — "  don't  think  of 
it,"  as  they  moved  toward  the  entrance;  ''I 
will  get  a  coupe." 

"  No — no — not  a  coupe,  we  came  in  the  Cot- 
tage Grove  Avenue  car.  Mr.  Bond  told  us  to 
avoid  coupes,  they  cost  so  much  money." 


30  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"  Mr.  Bond  is — let  us  say,  over-cautious." 

"He  is  a  careful  man,  sir,  and  my  brother," 
put  in  Mrs.  Williams. 

"And  most  conscientious  I  am  sure,"  said 
Nevin,  in  a  peculiar  tone.  "Still  you  must  let 
me  insist  on  the  coupe,  and  I  Avill  settle  with 
the  driver." 

"No,  certainly  not!"  cried  Miss  Ashland, 
decidedly.     "  I  shall  paj^  for  it  mj^self." 

"I  dare  not  contradict  3^ ou.  Then  at  Avhat 
hour  may  I  present  myself  to-morrow  ?  "  asked 
Nevin,  with  an  aif  of  profound  deference. 

"  Oh,  to-morrow  ?  Well,  any  time  after 
nine ;  they  will  not  give  us  breakfast  until 
8:30,"  returned  Miss  Ashland. 
^  Wilfred  Nevin  gazed  at  her  Avith  so  be- 
wildered an  expression  that  Neale  could  not 
resist  laughing.  "  My  friend  here  is  not  given 
to  early  rising,"  he  said.  "He  has  a  terrible 
complaint  which  checks  his  •  natural  energy — 
want  of  occupation." 

"That  is  very  bad,  very  wearisome,"  she 
returned,  gravely.  "  Will  you  come  to-mor- 
row ?  "  she  continued,  looking  at  Harold  with- 
out a  shade  of  hesitation  or  embarrassment. 

"I  am  sorry  I  cannot  have  that  pleasure  ;  I 
have  an  engagement." 

"  What  !  at  nine  in  the  morning  ?  "  said 
Nevin. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  31 

"  Not  quite  so  early." 

"  Well,  Miss  Ashland,  if  I  may  come  after 
luncheon,  say  about  3:30,  we  will  arrange  some 
charming-  plans." 

''Thank  you;  we  shall  have  quite  finished 
dinner  by  that  time." 

"  You  ma}^  be  sure  I  shall  be  punctual." 

Here  a  hack,  which  Nevin  had  hailed,  drove 
up. 

'•'  Dear  me  !  I  hate  those  things  !  "  cried  Mrs. 
Williams  ;  "  you  can  never  see  where  you  are 
going.     I'm  always  afraid  of  a  collision." 

"  The3^  are  much  better  than  the  cars.  All 
the  infectious  diseases  travel  in  the  cars." 

"  Think  of  that  now !  Isn't  it  a  shame  ? 
What'll  we  do,  Alice,  my  dear  ?  " 

"  Oh,  let  us  take  the  hack;"  she  paused,  and 
after  a  moment's  hesitation  held  out  her  hand, 
first  to  ISTevin  and  then  to  Neale,  with  not  un- 
dignified simplicity. 

As  the  vehicle  drove  away  Nevin  passed  his 
arm  through  Harold's,  and  they  walked  down 
Midway  Plaisance  in  silence  for  a  few  paces  ; 
then  Nevin  exclaimed  with  a  groan  :  "  She  is 
even  worse  than  I  expected.  What  a  price  I 
shall  have  to  pay  for  independence  !  What  a 
figure  !  What  a  toilet !  Could  anything  ever 
lick  her  into  shape  ?  "    • 

'•'  I  don't  agree  with  you,"  returned  Harold  ; 


32  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"  she  is  quaint,  but  far  from  commonplace.  I 
believe  if  she  were  dressed  up,  like  Mrs.  Wain- 
wright  or  your  sister,  she  might  even  look 
pretty." 

"  Like  Mrs.  Wainwright. !  Great  heavens  ! 
what  are  jo\x  thinking  of?  Did  you  see  her 
white  stockings  and    charitj^-school    shoes?'' 

"  I  did,  and  I  also  observed  that  the  ankles  so 
travestied  were  remarkably  neat," 

"  Why,  Harold,  you  are  not  going  in  for 
rivalship  ?  " 

"  You  are  quite  safe  so  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned," returned  Neale,  dryl3^  *•'  But  I  doubt 
if  your  game  will  be  as  easj^  as  you  anticipate." 

''  Easy  !  it  is  sure  to  be  hard  work  in  any 
.  case ;  and  then  this  craze  for  art  !  I  must  get 
Mary  to  help  me  there.  In  fact,  I  shall  never 
get  through  the  affair  without  Mary's  help ; 
but  I  can  count  on  her ;  she  wants  to  get  me 
off  her  hands." 

"  Why  Wilfred,  with  your  interest  and  sharp- 
ness you  ought  to  be  able  to  make  j^our  own 
living  without  having  to  sell  yourself." 

"  Make  my  own  living  !  what  a  disgusting 
phrase !  Really,  Harold,  there  is  a  stronger 
backwoods  flavor  about  you  than  I  thought. 
However,  I  have  not  committed  myself  to  an\'- 
thing.  Old  Bond,  the  snuffy  one,  wants  to' 
make  some   final   conditions  before  I  open  the 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  33 

sieg-e  in  form.  By  the  way,  are  you  to  dine  with 
the  Cravens  on  Thursday?  " 

^aara." 

"  Then  pray  tell  Mary  the  enormous  sacrifice  I 
am  making-  to  a  stern  sense  of  duty." 

'^  What  duty  ?" 

''  The  duty  of  self -maintenance." 

''I  shall  tell  her  my  opinion  if  she  asks  it. 
Now  I  must  leave  you." 

''Would  you  come  down  to  Evanston  ? 
Mar5^  will  be  there,  and  she  told  me  to  bring- 
you." 

''Sorry  I  can't,  but  I  have  an  appointment 
with  a  man  who  wants  to  rent  one  of  our  farms ; 
I  am  almost  late  already." 

"  Well,  good-by  for  the  present.  If  you  had 
any  compassion  you  would  not  leave  me  to  vaj 
sorrow." 

"I  feel  sure  ^''ou  will  not  long  need  consola- 
tion," said  Harold,  smiling,  as  he  nodded  good- 
by  to  his  friend  at  the  end  of  the  Plaisance  and 
jumped  into  a  coupe.  ''  It  is  no  affair  of  mine," 
he  mused,  as  the  vehicle  whirled  along  toward 
the  city,  ''  but  I  can't  help  feeling  sorrj^  for  the 
girl.  But  women  are  strange  animals  ;  I  can- 
not take  credit  to  myself  for  understanding 
them,  though  that  fellow's  sister  g-ave  me  a 
lesson  or  two." 


34  ALICE   ASHLAND. 


CHAPTER    HI. 


Mrs,  Craven  came  down  dressed  for  dinner 
and  entered  her  beautiful  drawing'-rooms,  her 
white  neck  and  arms  g-leaming  through  the 
filmy  black  lace  which  affected  to  cover  them. 

She  was  readj^  in  good  time  this  especial 
Thursday,  as  she  hoped  for  an  opportunity  of 
speaking  to  her  brother  before  Major  Craven 
appeared. 

''  Wilfred  is  always  late.  I  do  hope  he  had 
my  note,"  she  thought,  as  she  sank  on  to 
a  comfortable  lounge.  Then  rousing  herself, 
she  leaned  forward  to  glance  at  the  clock,  and 
as  she  did  so  Wilfred  Nevin  was  announced. 
"I  was  afraid  you  would  not  come  in  time," 
she  exclaimed. 

"  What  is  it,  Mary  ?     Are  you  in  a  scrape  ?  " 

"  A  scrape  !  Me  ?  ' '  she  returned,  with  a 
large  note  of  interrogation.  *'That  is  not 
likely  to  happen.  No  ;  I  want  to  warn  you 
against  confiding  this  matrimonial  venture  of 
yours  to  Harold  Neale.  I  am  half  afraid  you 
have  done  so  already." 

"  Yes,  of  course  I  have.  Did  I  not  tell  you 
I  took  him  with  me  to  witness  my  interview 
with  my  fiancee,  as  I  consider  her  ?  " 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  35 

"  Then  you  are  a  greater  fool  than  I  took 
you  for.  Unless  he  has  changed,  Harold  is  the 
sort  of  man  who  strains  at  g^nats  and  does  not 
swallow  camels  ;  that  is  what  that  Scotchman, 
Charley  Richards,  said  about  him,  and  you  re- 
member how  the  deacon  used  to  call  him  Harold 
Hardcase.  He  is  quite  capable  of  making-  love 
to  her  himself." 

"And  cutting-  me  out  himself,  eh  ?"  added 
Nevin,  laug-hing-  at  his  sister's  intimation.  "I 
think  you  do  him  injustice  ;  he's  not  quite  such 
an  idiot,  though  he  did  vow  eternal  love  to  that 
one-e^^ed  Miller  girl  at  Clallam.  You  don't 
suppose  he  is  still  the  credulous  blockhead  you 
bamboozled  ?  I  can  tell  j^ou  he  is  both  tough 
and  hard." 

''Very  likely,"  returned  Mrs.  Craven,  a 
faint,  almost  tender,  smile  passing  over  her 
lips.  "  Still,  he  would  despise  your  method  of 
finding  a  well-dowered  wife.  I  hope  you  did 
not  let  him  think  I  knew  anything  about  it." 

''  Of  course  I  did.  Whx^  I  backed  mj^self  up 
with  your  approbation." 

'•'Really,  Wilfred,  you  are  too  unprincipled. 
You  cannot  realh^  believe  that  other  people 
have  scruples.  1  am  infinitely  annoyed.  What 
will  Harold  Neale  think  of  me  ?  " 

"  He  won't  think  about  you  at  all ;  he'll 
think  more  about  the  crease  in  his  new  Sunday 


36  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

pants ;  and  what  the  deuce  would  it  matter  if 
he  did  ?  He  is  not  horrified — not  a  bit  of  it. 
He  is  rather  amused  at  the  whole  affair.  If 
anything-  he  is  rather  taken  with  my  little 
Quakeress ;  says  she  reminds  him  of  '  Toby 
Gooch.'  It  is  only  natural,  you  know,  that  hav- 
ing been  jilted  by  a  lioness,  Harold  should  con- 
sole himself  with  a  mouse." 

Mrs.  Graven  did  not  reply  at  once,  but  a 
flash  of  vivid  anger  gleamed  in  her  eyes,  a  look 
that  Wilfred  knew  and  never  trifled  with. 

*'It  would  serve  you  right  if  he  won  the 
prize  from  you,"  she  said,  quietly.  '•'  It  is  well 
you  told  me.  I  shall  know  what  line  to  take. 
If,"  she  continued,  after  another  shght  pause, 
''if  I  am  to  assist  you,  j^ou  must  consult  and 
be  guided  by  me.  Wilfred,  I  have  not  seen  you 
for  nearly  a  week  ;  have  j^ou  been  absorbed 
by  your  devotion  to  Miss  Ashland,  or  to — " 

"Not  altogether,"  he  interrupted,  quickly. 
**  I  have  escorted  her  to  the  Exposition  three  or 
four  times  and  to  Lincoln  Park  and  the  races, 
but  my  evenings  have  been  my  own.  She  is 
raving  to  go  to  the  theater,  but  I  can  not  stand 
that.  It  is  more  than  any  one  can  stand  to 
appear  in  public  with  the  wall-eyed  old  ghoul 
who  chaperons  her.  Your  maid,  Christina 
Croten,  would  disdain  to  associate  with  Mrs. 
Williams.     You    must   really  help   me,   Mary, 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  37 

and  educate  your  future  sister-in-law  to  some- 
thing- near  up-to-date  before  I  marry  her ;  and 
for  Heaven's  sake  find  her  a  drawing-master,  or 
a  studio.  She  is  a  pertinacious  little  'cuss/ 
and  more  difficult  to  make  an  impressioii  on 
than  I  expected  ;  I  wish  George  O'Brien  had 
written  up  the  accident  instead  of  that  booby 
Pring-le,  whom  nature  better  fitted  for  some 
'Variety  Dive/  or  freak  museum,  than  the 
press." 

''  Ah,  indeed,"  returned  Mrs.  Craven  thoug-ht- 
fully.  ''  Well,  Wilfred,  whenever  you've  finally 
settled  with  the  acting-  g-uardian,  I  will  call  on 
this  g-irl  and  see  what  is  to  be  done.  I  might 
ask  her  here,  as  Mrs.  Wainwright  has  gone  to 
do  penance  with  her  mother-in-law.  But  she 
must  be  obedient ;  she  must  put  herself  com- 
pletely in  my  hands." 

"Ah,  Nevin,  it  is  something  to  see  you  in 
good  time,"  said  Major  Craven,  who  had  en- 
tered unperceived,  and  now  approached  them. 

He  was  short  and  broad,  with  bowed  legs  and 
anything  but  a  soldierly  bearing,  and  derived 
his  rank  from  some  raw  recruits  he  mustered, 
but  never  led  into  the  field,  during  the  trials  of 
the  early  sixties.  An  exceedingly  red,  weather- 
beaten  face,  small,  sharp  eyes  contrasted 
strongh^  with  his  wife's  grace  and  dignity. 

*'  Yes,  I  am  going  to  be  practical  and  punct- 


38  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

ual,"  returned  Nevin,  g-ravely.  *' In  short,  I 
am  going"  to  turn  over  that  new  leaf  I  have  been 
so  long-  fing-ering-." 

*'  Hig-li  time  you  should,  ni^-  boy." 

"  Why,  Wilfred,  you  have  turned  over  new 

leaves  enoug"h   to  make  a  larg-e  volume,"  said 

his  sister. 

"Judge  and  Mrs.  Rohde,"  announced  the 
butler,  and  Mrs.  Craven  went  forward  to  re- 
ceive them.  Mrs.  Wainwrig-ht  and  Mr.  Neale 
quickly  followed ;  then  Mr.  James  Woods,  of  the 
''Customs,"  a  well-known  dining-out  man,  and 
the  little  partj^  was  complete. 

Mrs.  Craven  welcomed  Harold  Neale  with 
frank  cordiality,  and  introduced  him  as  an  old 
plaj^fellow  to  her  husband,  who  shook  hands 
with  him  and  said  he  was  very  glad  to  make  his 
acquaintance.  Then .  dinner  was  announced. 
Neale  took  in  Mrs.  Wainwright,  and  found  her 
an  amusing  companion  ;  indeed,  every  one  of 
the  party  seemed  gifted  with  the  power  of  say- 
ing trifles  agreeably  in  a  w^ay  that  sounded 
witty.  The  time  flew  in  exchange  of  scandal, 
anecdote  and  political  chit-chat,  and  when  the 
men  rose  from  the  table  Major  Craven  excused 
himself  from  joining  the  ladies  on  the  plea  that 
he  had  to  have  his  smoke.  Judge  Rohde,  the 
best-hearted  and   most  genial  member  of  the 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  39 

bar  in  the  States,  but  an  inveterate  smoker,  ac- 
companied him. 

''Do  help  me  to  get  Mr.  Woods  to  sing," 
said  Mrs.  Craven  to  her  brother,  as  he  came 
up  to  her.  "Have  you  ever  heard  Mr.  Woods 
sing,  Mr.  Neale  ?  He  is  a  real  Nicolini.  Nat- 
ure and  art  combined.     Just  one  song,  please." 

"  I  shall  be  most  happy,"  arid  the  gentleman, 
who  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  using  his  ca- 
tarrhal tenor,  went  readil}^  to  the  piano  and 
warbled  out  one  of  Tosti's  "  Oh  sadly  sweet 
and  beautifully  blue"  arrangement  of  notes, 
over  which  modern  drawing-room  sparrows 
continue  to  croak.  Mrs.  Craven  sat  profoundl}' 
still  in  her  corner  of  the  sofa,  her  head  slightly 
turned  from  Harold,  showing-  the  graceful  out- 
line of  her  throat  and  the  delicate  beauty  of 
her  small  ear.  When  the  singer  ended,  with  a 
long-drawn  mee-oiv,  Mrs.  Craven  heaved  a  deep 
sigh,  and  looking  round  to  Neale,  who  stood 
near  her,  smiled  as  she  raised  her  eyes  to  his. 

''  What  wonderful  pathos  he  puts  into  it  I 
It  is  a  voice  that  pierces  the  heart,  or  what- 
ever does  duty  for  that  sentimental  organ." 

'*A  fine  voice,"  he  returned,  "but  a  most 
doleful  ditty.  Do  you  not  sing  ?  I  think  I  re- 
member your  singing  '  Changeless  '  in  what 
I  then  considered  a  heavenly  style." 

''  I  never  sing  now  except  when  I  am  alone," 


40  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

said  Mrs.  Craven.  "  When  I  want  to  live  the 
past  over  again  1  sit  down  and  croon  to  my- 
self." 

She  drew  her  dress  closer  to  her  to  make 
room,  and  with  a  gesture  invited  him  to  sit  be- 
side her.  Neale  obeyed ;  the  rest  clustered 
round  the  piano  discussing-  De  Wolf  Hopper's 
/'Panjandrum/'  morsels  of  which  Mrs.  Wain- 
wright  played  from  time  to  time. 

'^Mj'-dear,"  exclaimed  Major  Craven,  who, 
with  Judge  Rohde,  had  entered  the  room  un- 
seen ;  "  ray  dear,  the  judge  and  I  are  going  to 
town  for  a  couple  of  hours." 

**  And  who  is  to  see  me  home  ?  "  asked  the 
judge's  wife. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Woods  there  will  perform  that  serv- 
ice for  me,"  replied  the  genial  judge. 

And  bidding  good-night  to  all,  the  colonel 
and  judge  took  their  departure. 

"Tell  me,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  slowlj^  opening 
and  shutting  a  large  black  leather  fan,  ''how 
is  it  that  my  brother  has  persuaded  you  to  as- 
sist him  in  his  extraordinar3^  matrimonial 
scheme  ?  I  did  not  think  you  could  so  com- 
pletely cast  aside  the  romantic  chivalry  that 
used  to  distinguish  you  in  the  days  when  we 
were  Mary  and  Harold  to  each  other." 

"Romantic  chivalry!"  repeated  Harold, 
smiling.     "1  am  not  aware  I  ever  possessed 


ALICE   ASHLAND,  41 

such  a  characteristic.  It  must  have  evaporated 
long-  ago.  But,  Mrs.  Craven,  I  had  no  idea 
what  Wilfred  was   about  until   he  came    and 

^.  asked  me  to  be  present  at  his  second  meeting 
with  the  young"  lady  whom  he  intends  to  ap- 
propriate. I  confess  I  was  amazed  and  ex- 
pressed my  astonishment  freely  ;  but  you  don't 
suppose  any  preaching-  of  mine  would  influence 
your  brother  ?  " 

"No,  I  do  not  think  any  one  influences  him. 
But  he  has  been  talking*  to  me  very  seriously 
about  this  strang^e  idea  of  his  and  has  rather 
won  me  over.  We  have  had  a  great  deal  of 
anxiety  over  Wilfred.  He  is  provoking,  but 
lovable.  You  see,  he  is  one  of  those  unlucky 
men  who  can  7iot  work." 

"  Indeed  !  "  said  Harold,  dryly. 
''  Ah  !  to  a  man  of  your  energy  that  must 
seem  impossible  or  contemptible,  but  you  are 
quite    different.      You    are — "      She    stopped, 

{ looked  down  and  a  soft  flush  stole  over  her 
cheek  and  throat.  "At  all  events,"  raising 
her  eyes  to  Neale's,  which  were  bent  on  her 
with  calm  observation  that  stung  her  with  an 
irritating  sense  that  he  was  the  stronger  of  the 
two,  "  at  all  events,  poor  Wilfred  has  cost  us  a 
good  deal    in  every  way,   and  really,    if  this 

kgirl  is  not  too  dreadful,  it  would  be  well  to  se- 

fcure  her  fortune  for  my  brother.     He   would 


42  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

never  be  a  steady-  husband,  nor  would  he  be  an 
unkind  one.  Her  monej'  might  be  tied  up,  and 
the^'  Avould  get  on  as  well  as  half — two-thirds 
of  the  married  people  one  meets." 

''Perhaps."  said  Harold,  half  unconsciously, 
as  the  recollection  of  the  innocent,  fearless  eyes 
that  looked  out  from  under  Miss  Ashland's 
backwoods  hat  came  back  to  him  with  a  great 
wave  of  compassion. 

"Tell  me,  what  is  she  really  like?"  pursued 
Mrs.  Craven.  "  I  can  depend  on  what  you  say 
more  than  on  Wilfred's  report." 

''  I  do  not  think  my  judgment  can  be  of  much 
use  to  you,  Mrs.  Craven  ;  our  ideas  must  be  as 
widely  different  as  our  experiences.  Miss  Ash- 
land is  exceedingly  rustic,  and,  even  to  my  un- 
instructed  eyes,  badly  dressed,  but  she  is  rather 
quaint  than  unladylike  ;  there  is  no  tinge  of 
Poverty  Flat  about  her.  She  is  rather  pretty, 
so  it  seems  to  me." 

"  Then  you  think  I  might  make  something  of 
her  ?  " 

'•'  Oh,  you  could  do  wonders.I  have  no  doubt." 

"Ah,  Mr.  Neale,  j'our  tone  is  cynical,  but  I 
am  read}^  to  bear  a  good  deal  from  a^ou." 

This  with  a  smile  and  upward  glance  from  her 
soft-brown,  beseeching  eyes. 

Harold  laughed  good-humoredl^-. 

'•  You  wrong  me.     In  sober  earnest  I  believe 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  43 

you  could  influence  any  young-  g-irl,  if  you  chose 
to  be  kind  to  her,"  he  said. 

''You  have  grown  very  hard  in  these  long 
years  of  wandering*,  Harold  —  forgive  me,  I 
mean  Mr.  Neale." 

"  My  surroundings  have  certainly  not  been 
calculated  to  soften  me  "'  he  returned,  "but  I 
don't  suppose  I  am  harder  or  slrong-er  than  my 
neighbors.  However,  I  trust  if  you  take  up 
this  scheme  of  your  brother's,  you  will  give 
some  consideration  to  the  young  lady's  inter- 
ests. I  suppose  your  womanly  sympathy  will 
be  her  safeg-uard." 

"  You  seem  to  have  espoused  her  cause  very 
warmly,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  looking-  do'wn. 

"I  do  not  think  I  have,  only  I  like  fair  play. 
Remember,  it  is  a  game  at  blindman's  buff, 
with  odds  of  10  to  1  ag-ainst  the  blind  man,  or 
rather  woman." 

"You  are  rig-ht,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  g-ently. 
"  I  will  promise  to  be  7ie/'  friend  as  well  as  Wil- 
fred's." 

"I  have  no  doubt  3"ou  will  be,"  began  Har- 
old, when  he  was  interrupted  by  a  demand  from 
vivacious  Mr,  Woods. 

•'  Do  ask  Mrs.  Wainwright  to  sing,  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven. I  am  sure  she  sings,  and  she  is  going  to 
steal  away  to  President  Pottej's  ball." 

"  But  I  don't  sing- ;  I  don't  do  anything  but 


44  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

cumber  the  earth,"  said  Mrs.  Wainwrig-ht.  '"I 
always  find  people  to  do  everything-  for  me 
much  better  than  I  could  do  them  myself." 

'•'  You  must  pay  your  shot,  however,  in  one 
way  or  another,"  cried  the  lively  James. 

''Not  that  I  am  aware  of,"  replied  Mrs. 
Wainwright.  "  I  can't  pay  anj^thing ;  I  anr 
too  disgustingly  poor." 

' '  Yet  you  contribute  your  share,  and  a  large 
one,"  cried  Nevin.  ''You  add  the  harmoniz- 
ing- tone,  the  complimentary  touch  of  color 
needed  by  society."  His  tone,  though  hght, 
had  a  tinge  of  earnestness  in  it. 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Nevin,  you  must  have  been 
reading-  some  of  Ward  McAllister's  inane  scrib- 
bling-s  in  the  New  York  World.  If  I  get  on  at 
all  it  is  because  I  am  a  neutral  tint,"  said  Mrs. 
Wainwrig-ht,  coming-  over  to  say  good-nig-ht  to 
Mrs.  Craven.  "  So  sorry  not  to  be  with  you, 
dear.  This  is  a  delightful  house  you've  taken 
for  the  Fair  season,  but  I  must  do  the  devoted 
to  the  Potters  or  the  result  wall  be  insolv- 
ency." 

Mrs.  Judge  Rohde  and  Mrs.  Woods  were  also 
taking-  their  departure,  andNevin  escorted  Mrs. 
Wainwright. 

"  If  you  can  stay  a  little  long-er  I'll  sing  you 
some  of  our  old  favorites,"  said  Mrs.  Craven, 


ALICE   ASHLAN 


h.  45 


as  Harold  turned  to  bid  her  good-evening.  ''  Do 
yoTi  care  to  stay  ?  " 
So  Harold  stayed. 

Mr.  Bond  occupied  a  suite  of  rooms  on  the  top 
story  of  that  world-famed  "sky-scraper"  known 
as  the  Masonic  Temple.  The  rooms  were  in 
every  sense  worth}^  of  the  occupant,  a  keen, 
shrewd,  nervous,  yet  matter-of-fact  Chicago 
lawyer,  with  ISTo.  1  constantly  before  his  mind's 
eye.  Mr.  Bond,  with  all  his  keenness,  shrewd- 
ness and  nervousness,  had  only  eked  out  a 
modest  living  until  the  news  reached  him  of  his 
old  friend  James  Ashland's  death  in  far-away 
California,  and  his  appointment  as  executor 
and  guardian,  with  Mr.  Watts  as  his  second, 
to  Ashland's  only  child,  a  daughter.  Two 
years  after  the  father's  death  the  girl's  uncle 
died  intestate,  and  Mr.  Bond  had  the  manage- 
ment of  the  large  estate  he  left.  On  this  occa- 
sion of  our  introduction  to  Mr.  Bond,  that 
worthy  was  standing  beside  his  desk  holding  a 
letter,  at  which  he  did  not  look — a  small,  lean, 
angular  man,  with  a  large  head,  sharp  little 
eyes  fenced  with  spectacles,  a  wide,  thin-lipped 
mouth,  that  seemed  forever  smiling,  and  a 
short,  upturned  nose.  His  lips  moved  as  if  re- 
peating something  to  himself.  Presently  he 
muttered  :  "  Ten  thousand  dollars  :  can't  vent- 


46  ALICE   ASHLAND. 


lire  to  put  it  higher,  anyhow  ;  and  that's  a 
poor  price."  Then  he  looked  at  the  letter  and 
read  it  through  with  a  sardonic  grin.  ''Blessed 
old  fossil,  it  shall  have  its  resurrected  mam- 
moths from  Dakota,  as  long  as  it  does  not, 
hinder  me  from  gathering  shekels.  I  can  man-  • 
age  business  affairs  better  than  old  Watts,  eh  ? 
I  believe  you  !  Well,  it's  an  ill  wind  that  blows 
nobody  good  ;  even  a  Chicago  wind  can't  do 
that.  Lord,  what  fools  they  all  are  !  Here's 
another,"  taking  up  a  second  letter  and  read- 
ing: "'  When  is  m^'  darling  to  come  back  to  me? 
She'll  never  be  happj'-  among  the  grand  folks 
at  the  World's  Fair."  (If  Kate  had  an  ounce  of 
sense,  what  a  help  she  might  be  to  me.  It's  a 
mercy  I  have  the  bit  of  writing  that  might  ruin 
her  boy.  The  idiot !  I  have  him  and  her  in  my 
grip  pretty  fast.)  'Your  loving  sister,  K. 
Williams.'  Bosh !  Why  the.  devil  will  she 
write?  Letters  are  always  dangerous,"  tear- 
ing it  into  a  dozen  pieces.  "  I'll  turn  her  to  ac- 
count, for  all  her  devotion  to  the  girl." 

Here  a  shock-headed  ofEice-bo3%  coming  in, 
interrupted  him.  "Gentleman,  sir,"  he  said, 
thrusting  a  card  into  his  master's  hand. 

"  Ha  !  show  him  in,  and,  mind  you,  I'm  par- 
ticularly^ engaged.  Don't  let  mortal  in,  not 
even  Mr.  Clay." 

The   boy   nodded    and   went  out,  whereupon 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  47 

Wilfred  Nevin  entered,  perfectly  dressed,  fresh, 
cool,  g-ood-humt)red,  an  extraordinary  contrast 
to  Mr.  Bond  and  his  surrounding's. 

"Good-morning",  sir,  g-ood-morning, "  said 
the  latter.  ''Sit  down.  Warm  morning",  isn't 
it  ?  Sun  in  your  eyes  ?"  as  he  pulled  down  the 
Wind. 

''  Pray  don't  trouble  yourself,  I'm  all  right," 
isaid  Nevin,  seating  himself. 
-    "  Well,  well,  my  dear  sir,  how  are  we  getting" 
on  ?  "  asked  Bond. 

"  That  is  what  you  call  a  leading  question," 
returned  Wilfred,  smiling.  "On  the  whole, 
not  badly.  I  have  been  doing"  my  dut3^  I  have 
presented  flowers,  and  they  have  been  joyouslj'^ 
; accepted.  In  a  couple  of  weeks  or  so  I  may, 
^with  your  sanction,  venture  to  propose." 
I  "  There  are  just  a  few  preliminaries  to  settle 
first,"  said  Mr.  Bond,  gently  scratching  his 
head  with  the  top  of  his  pen.  "  I  asked  you  to 
come  and  talk  them  over,  because  Mr.  Watts 
leaves  everything"  to  me." 

*'  Oh,  I'm  perfectly  content.  You  have  a 
masterly  way  of  managing-  business  that  is 
quite  remarkable.  Fr&y  what  are  these  pre- 
liminaries ?  I  thoug-ht  you  -had  sufRcientlj^  in- 
quired as  to  ray  walk  in  life,  and  found  the  par- 
ticulars highly  creditable.  I  had  even  got  rid 
of  my  debts  before  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meet- 


48  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

ing  your  ward,  though  I  warn  you  they  are  be- 
g-inuing  to  accumulate  ag-ain." 

"That  I  dare  say,"  returned  Bond,  with  a 
grin.  "lam  prepared  to  stand  your  friend, 
and,  remember,  without  my  full  consent "  — 
here  his  eyes  twinkled  gleefully  —  "no  man 
has  a  chance  for  three  or  four  years  to  come. 
Now  I  am  not  going-  to  give  it  lightly  ;  aiui 
first,  are  you  disposed  to  make  any  sacrifice  to 
prove  you  are  in  earnest  ?  " 

"  My  dear  sir,  I  really  have  nothing  to  sacri- 
fice but  my  liberty,  and  liberty  paralyzed  b\ 
want  of  the  almighty  dollar  is  not  much  to  re- 
sig-n." 

"Ahem!  true  for  you,"  said  Bond,  with  a 
sigh.  "  I'm  sure  it  Avould  take  a  week  to  tell 
all  the  trouble  and  toil  I've  had  with  the  Ash- 
land estate,  to  say  nothing  of  the  valuable  time 
it  has  taken  up,  and  no  reward  for  me.  You 
know  old  Watts  and  mj^self  are  executors  as 
well  as  guardians,  and  every  blessed  bit  of 
work  has  fallen  to  my  share.  Of  course  I'd 
gladl}'^  do  my  best  for  the  minor.  My  sister  and 
I  look  upon  her  as  our  own  child." 

Nevin  bowed  assent. 

"As  I  said,"  resumed  Bond,  "I'd  do  any- 
thing for  the  dear  child.  But  I  am  a  poor  man; 
my  time  is  my  money,  and  I  have  spent  months, 
of  it  upon  her." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  49 

"I  begin  to  understand,"  said  Wilfred. 
"  Pray  go  on." 

"You  are  not  a  business  man,  Mr.  Nevin," 
continued  the  lawyer,  with  a  grin.  "  You  are 
above  these  sort  of  things.  But  I  had  a  very 
sensible  letter  from  a  young  man  I  once  pulled 
through  an  awkward  fix  and  who  has  since  shot 
ahead  and  made  a  lot  of  money.  This  letter 
contains  an  offer  of  eight  thousand  dollars  if  I 
can  find  him  a  suitable  wife.  But  read  it  for 
yourself." 

Nevin  took  and  read  the  letter. 

"Ah!  now  I  understand  you.  You  wish 
some  remuneration  for  your  valuable  time  and 
fatherly  care  ?  I  really  don't  see  what  claim 
you  have  on  me.  If  my  future  wife  wishes  to 
bestow  any  trifling  gift  in  the  shape  of  friend- 
ship's offering  as  a  token  of  gratitude  for  your 
disinterested  care,  I  have  no  objection." 

Mr.  Bond  grinned  more  amicably  than  ever. 

"And  suppose  I  withdraw  my  sanction,  my 
assistance,  where  are  you  ?  " 

"  And  suppose  I  persuade  the  young  lady  to 
dispense  with  your  consent  ?  "  asked  Wilfred, 
with  an  ineffable  air.     "  What  shall  you  do  ?  " 

"  Let  her  money  accumulate  until  I  grant  it, 
and  tie  it  up  so  tight  that  you  can't  touch  a 
cent,  without  her  consent,  during  her  life  or 
after  her  death." 


50  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

''But  you  would  not  sell  her  to  this — this 
fellow  ?  "  asked  Nevin,  striking  the  letter  with 
his  fing-er. 

"  Why  not  ?  He  is  a  good  enough  fellow, 
with  red  hair,  not  unlike  yourself." 

"I  fancy  Miss  Ashland  would  see  a  differ- 
ence," he  said. 

'' Maybe— maybe,  but  that  isn't  the  question. 
Are  you  willing  to  make  me  an  offer  ?  I  am 
foolish  enough  when  I  like  a  man,  and  I  like 
you,  especially  when  I  think  you'll  make  our 
ward  happy,  only  I  musn't — I  mustn't  allow 
myself  to  be  weak,  for  my  poor  sister's  sake 
as  well  as  my  own.  Who'll  look  after  me  when 
I'm  past  my  work  ?  " 

'  "I  cannot  tell,  I'm  sure.  But  how  do  you 
think  it  would  sound  if  I  were  to  make  your 
proposition  public  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  and  don't  care  much ;  I  am 
not  going  to  commit  m3^self  to  writing,  and  my 
word  is  as  good  as  yours,  who  believed  Judge 
Woodman  when  he  charged  Mike  McDonald 
with  attempted  bribery,  and  what  came  of  it  ?  " 

Nevin  laughed.  "  Really,  your  candor  is 
quite  refreshing.  Where  do  you  think  I'd  find 
eight  thousand  dollars?  " 

"  Oh,  j'^^ou'U  mid  that  much  fast  enough,  but 
I  want  two  thousand  more.  Now,  to  show  j^ou 
that  I'm  your  friend,  I'll  agree  to  aid  you  for 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  51 

ten  thousand  dollars,  providing-  you  leave  the 
manag-ement  of  the  property  in  my  hands  when 
it  comes  into  j'ours." 

"You  are  an  admirable  diplomat  after  the 
knock-me-down  Bismarckian  school,  Mr.  Bond," 
said  Nevin.  "  I  cannot  admire  your  cynical 
frankness  sufficiently." 

'' It's  all  verj^  fine  talking-,"  returned  Bond. 
"  But  I  have  what  j'ou  want,  and  as  Joe  Kuhn 
says,  and  he's  g-ot  rich  at  the  same  game,  '  If 
j'^ou  are  in  earnest  you  must  come  to  my 
terms.'  " 

''Why,  I  have  been  here  nearly  an  hour," 
cried  Nevin,  looking-  at  his  watch,  "  and  it  is 
such  a  fine  day.  My  time  is  nearly  up.  Let  us 
come  to  some  conclusion." 

"By  all  means.  It  rests  with  you.  You 
know  my  terms,  and  I'm  really  sorrj^  I  can't 
move  an  inch  from  them — not  with  justice  to 
myself." 

"A  sense  of  justice  which  I  imagine  never 
fails  you." 

"  I  hope  it  never  will." 

"Well,  look  here,  then.  I  don't  mind 
about  the  money,  but  I  should  like  to  have  the 
managing  of  my  own  affairs.  In  short — excuse 
the  brutality— but  as  j^our  friend  Joe  Kuhn 
would  say,  'I'd  rather  not  have  you  for  the 
middleman.'     And  Joe  got  rich,  you  say,  and 


52  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

perhaps  some  of  his  clients'  orphans  went  to 
the  poorhouse." 

"Don't  mention  it,"  said  Mr.  Bond,  with  a 
grin,  "  though  you  will  regret  the  prejudice 
by  and  b5^  If  I  fall  in  with  your  views  I 
must  have  an  equivalent." 

"  What  will  you  consider  an  equivalent  ?  " 
cried  Wilfred,  again  looking  impatiently  at  his 
watch. 

"Hum!  it  is  rather  hard  to  say  off-hand; 
but  then  I  will  not  bargain  with  a  man  like 
3^ourself  —  hand  me  over  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars within  a  week  of  your  marriage  and  I 
shall  be  satisfied." 

"  Twenty  thousand !  that's  a  tremendous 
haul,  and,  as  you  tell  me,  there  is  not  much 
ready  money.     Will  not  this  cramp  me  ?" 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  That  last  purchase  of  old 
Ashland's,  which  swallowed  up  so  much  ready 
cash,  is  worth  nearly  double  what  he  gave  for 
it.  I  can  get  double  to-morrow.  Then  we  have 
the  Riverside  orange  groves,  which  bring  in  ten 
thousand  a  year.  Oh,  there's  plenty  of  prop- 
erty ;  you  just  sign  a  little  bond,  acknowledg- 
ing yourself  my  debtor-  for  twenty  thousand 
dollars  at  five  per  cent,,  and  matters  will  go 
smooth  and  easy." 

"  For  you,  perhaps.  But''  I'm  not  such  an 
incapable  as  to  put  myself  completely  in  your 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  53 

power.  Would  you  trust  me,  as  you  ask  me  to 
trust  you  ?  " 

'•'  Ay,  don't  you  be  too  mistrustful ;  it  is  a 
bad  sig-n,  my  3'^oung  friend." 

"I  will  sig-n  no  such  bond,  Mr.  Bond,  I  as- 
sure you,  unless  I  can  be  secured  in  some  way. 
Why,  you  might  demand  payment  whether  I 
married  or  not," 

"  Why,  what  have  I  done  that  you  think  me 
a  common  cheat  ?  " 

''Rather  an  Wicommon  one,"  returned 
Nevin,  contemptuously.  "Of  course,  I  mean 
in  an  intellectual  sense.  Show  me  how  I  can 
be  secured  and  I'll  sign  what  you  like  as  to  the 
dollars." 

"  Dear,  dear !  what  a  money-lender  was 
spoiled  when  you  were  born  a  gentleman ; 
how  Frank  Clapp  would  admire  you!"  ex- 
claimed Bond,  with  an  admiring  leer. 

*'  Born  a  borrower  instead  of  a  lender,  3^ou 
mean." 

"  Let  me  see,  how  can  I  satisfj^  you  ?  I'm 
that  obliging  I'd  like  to  make  things  easj^ 
Suppose  when  you  execute  the  bond  I  g-ive  you 
a  letter,  stating  that  unless  the  marriage  be- 
tween you  and  Miss  Ashland  takes  place  the 
bond  is  void  and  you  absolved  from  all  obliga- 
tion of  payment." 


54  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"  Yes,  I  think  that  migfht  do ;  but  I  should 
like  counsel's  opinion  on  it." 

"Ah,  what  nonsense  !  There  is  no  use  throw- 
ing away  a  fee.  I  saw  you  with  Judge  Rohde 
the  other  day  ;  ask  him  ;  he  is  one  of  the  few 
straight  legal  lights  of  modern  Babylon  ;  he'll 
tell  you  3^ou  are  as  safe  as  the  Constitution." 

''I  will,"  returned    Nevin ;  "meantime,  un- 
less advised  to  the  contrary,  it  is  a  bargain." 
•     "Good,  good;   I  am  glad  j^ou  see  your  own 
interest." 

"Then I  can  press  on  with  m3^  suit.  By  the 
way,  my  sister  will  call  on  Miss  Ashland  ;  I 
should  like  to  invite  my  future  wife  to  stay 
with  her ;  she  will  want  a  good  deal  of  brushing 
up.  If  she  does,  Mr.  Bond,  I  warn  you  she  will 
ask  you  for  big  checks." 

"  O  Lord  !  "  exclaimed  Bond,  shrugging  up 
his  shoulders  as  if  in  pain.  "  Does  it  cost  such 
a  heap  to  start  a  young  lady  ?  " 

"  I  fancy  the  general  run  of  milliners'  bills 
would  make  you  weep.  But  I  have  an  engage- 
ment, so  au  revoir.  I  suppose  I  may  make  all 
the  running  I  can  ?  " 

"  Certainly ;  1  am  as  anxious  to  have  her  off 
as  you  are  to  get  her.  You  are  just  the  man  I 
sighed  for." 

"Much  obliged  to  you,"  said    Nevin.     "Let 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  55 

me  have  a  line  when  the  bond  and  the  letter 
are  ready.    Good-morning." 

"Infernal  old  fiend,'*  muttered  Wilfred,  as 
he  \\';ent  down  the  elevator. 

"Got  him  sure,"  chuckled  old  Bond,  as  he 
closed  the  door. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"  I  AM  getting-  rather  tired  of  this  great 
shop,"  said  Harold  Neale  to  himself,  as  he 
walked  with  a  listless  and  half -weary  step  be- 
tween the  rows  of  showcases  in  the  Swiss 
Court  at  the  World's  Fair  one  bright  after- 
noon when  all  the  world  seemed  crowded  into 
this  most  magnificent  of  all  expositions.  The 
showcases  were  resplendent  with  articles  of 
Swiss  ingenuity  and  inventions,  which  the  en- 
vious crowd  were  admiring.  "There's  not  a 
sight  of  its  kind  on  the  face  of  the  earth," 
mused  Harold,  ''but  I  would  rather  not  see  it 
ever}-^  daj^  unless  I  had  a  lot  of  work  to  do  in 
connection  with  it.  I  would  rather  be  home  on 
the  Hudson.  There's  not  much  to  do  even 
there,  but  a  few  days'  fishing  can  always  be 
had.  That's  something  I  can  enjoy  better  than 
this  gorgeous  crowd." 


5G  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

Suddenly  a  look  of  surprised  attention  re- 
placed the  careless  glance  with  which  he  had 
eyed  the  exhibits  and  crowd,  for  a  few  feet 
from  him  stood  Alice  Ashland,  gazing-  atimir- 
ingly  at  an  exhibit  of  tiny  watches.  He  was 
startled  to  see  her  alone  in  that  motley  crowd. 
Country  bred  as  he  was,  it  seemed  unbecom- 
ing for  a  lady  to  be  alone  in  such  a  crowd,  and 
he  hastened  to  give  her  the  protection  of  his 
companionship. 

"  Miss  Ashland,  may  I  hope  you  remember  I 
was  introduced  to  you  by — " 

"Oh,  yes,"  she  interrupted,  with  a  bright, 
startled  look  of  surprise  and  pleasure.  "I  am 
very  glad  to  see  you. '  I  was  just  beginning  to 
feel  lonely,  even  here,  and  the  place  is  rather 
puzzling  and  you  will  show  me  around." 

''I  shall  be  most  happy  to  assist  you  in  any 
way.  How  is  it  that  you  are  alone  ?  "  asked 
Harold,  gravely. 

"Mrs.  Williams  is  not  quite  well  to-day. 
So  I  walked  down  Halsted  Street,  and  sud- 
denly the  impulse  seized  me  to  come  again  to 
the  Fair,  for  I  like  looking  at  the  exhibits, 
everything  is  so  very  beautiful.'' 

"I  shall  certainly  escort  you  about  the  place 
and  see  you  safely  home.  It  is  not  quite  safe 
for  you  to  be  alone  in  Chicago." 

"  Why  ?     There  is  nothing  to  fear.     I  take 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  57 

very  little  money,  and  no  one  ever  interferes 
with  me." 

''Still  I. do  not  like  to  see  you  by  3^ourself. 
Suppose  we  have  an  outing-  on  the  lake  in  one 
of  the  Venetian  g-ondolas  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  I'm  so  much  oblig-ed.  That  would 
be  splendid,  and  something-  entirely  new  to 
me." 

The}^  left  the  building-  and  seated  themselves 
in  one  of  the  gondolas,  which  its  picturesque 
gondolier  shot  hither  and  thither  ^through  the 
numerous  canals,  to  the  infinite  delight  of  Miss 
Ashland,  who  declared  on  their  way  home  that 
she  had  never  spent  such  a  delightful  afternoon 
since  she  left  California.  Leaving  the  Fair 
grounds  Harold  hailed  a  coupe,  and  thej'- 
started  homeward. 

"  I  suppose  3^ou  ride  when  you  are  at  home  ?  " 
began  Harold,  who  Avas  curious  to  learn  some- 
thing- of  her  past. 

"Not  now.  When  I  had  my  father  with  me 
we  had  a  nice  pony,  and  I  used  often  to  ride  on 
him.  But  one  da}^  afterward,  you  know  "  (he 
understood  that  she  meant  after  her  father's 
death),  "Mr.  Bond  came  to  Santa  Cruz  and 
saw  poor  old  '  Billy  '  feeding  behind  the  house. 
Then  he  said  he  was  no  use,  and  sold  him,  and 
let  the  place  to  strangers,  so  we  have  only  the 
garden  and  orchard  now." 


58  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

"I  daresay  3^011  were  sorr}'^  for  the   pony." 

**  Sorry  ?  I  zvas  sorry  !  It  made  me  hate  Mr. 
Bond,"  emphatically.  "Indeed,  I  shall  never 
like  him,  I  have  told  him  so  ;  but  I  am  almost 
inclined  to  forgive  him  for  sending  my  good, 
kind  Williams  to  live  with  me.  I  do  not  know 
what  would  become  of  me  without  her." 

''It  is  rather  alarming  to  hear  a  young  lady 
confess  that  she  hates  any  one." 

"  Is  it  ?  Well,  I  did  hate  Mr.  Bond,  and  I 
hated  the  doctor  at  Santa  Cruz.  I  cannot  nor 
could  not  help  it.  I  believe  I  had  a  bad 
temper." 

''Has  time  changed  it,  or  have  you  nobly 
struggled  to  overcome  your  own  evil  nature  ?  " 
asked  Neale,  looking  down  with  a  smile  at  the 
sweet,  thoughtful  face  beside  him. 

Miss  Ashland  laughed  a  low,  pleasant  laugh. 
"I'm  afraid  not;  I  grew  stronger,  and  did 
not  need  the  doctor,  and  as  I  felt  better  and 
brighter  and  able  to  enjoy  myself  I  forgot  Mr. 
Bond.  Now  he  is  going  to  let  me  learn  draw- 
ing, and  I  feel  almost  friendly  toward  him." 

There  was  a  pause.  Harold  thought,  with 
growing  interest  and  sincere  compassion,  that 
this  was  not  a  nature  to  be  satisfied  with  the 
shams  of  society  and  the  paste  diamonds  of  a 
showy  setting  to  life.     Still  Nevin  could  be  very 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  59 

fascinating,  and  she  mig-ht  believe  him  the  best 
of  men,  nor  have  her  faith  disturbed  all  the 
days  of  her  life. 

"  If  Mrs.  Williams  is  well  enough  to  see  me, 
perhaps  jo\x  will  let  me  look  at  some  of  your 
drawings  when  we  reach  your  rooms  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will,  g-ladly.  I  can  draw  very  little 
now,  but  I  am  to  go  to  a  studio  on  Michigan 
Avenue,  at  least  I  hope  so.  They  have  prom- 
ised to  get  Mr.  Bond's  consent." 

''Who  have  promised?" 

"  Mr.  Nevin  and  his  sister.  Do  you  know 
that  he  brought  his  sister  to  see  me  ?  Was  it 
not  good  of  him  ?  And  she — "  a  look  of  in- 
finite pleasure  and  admiration  beaming  over 
her  face — •'  oh,  she  is  lovely  !  she  is  like  a 
queen,  and  so  kind  to  me,  a  mere  ignorant 
Western  girl.  She  has  asked  me  to  staj"-  with 
her  while  I  am  studying,  and  says  she  will  do 
all  that  is  necessar^^  for  me.  Is  it  not  wonder- 
ful ?  " 

"  Ah  !  "  ejaculated  Harold,  ''you  mean  Mrs. 
Craven.  She  is  certafnly  charming.  When  do 
you  go  to  stay  with  her  ?  " 

"  I'm  not  quite  sure.  I  should  have  gone  on 
Monday,  but  Mrs.  Williams  was  unwell  and  I 
could  not  leave  her ;  indeed,  that  is  the  only 
drawback.     I  do  not  like  her  beins-  alone — she 


60  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

will  fret— but  she  says  she  does  not  mind.  I 
think  Mr.  Bond  has  told  her  she  must 
not." 

So  Mrs.  Craven  was  not  letting-  the  grass 
g-row  under  her  feet  in  the  prosecution  of  her 
brother's  plan.  How  would  it  end  for  the 
guileless  Californian,  who  was  probably  looked 
upon  by  both  as  a  mere  incumbrance  to  her  own 
wealth  ?  What  would  be  the  result  of  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven's training  ?  what  of  associations  of  Wil- 
fred Nevin  ?  How  much  of  her  fearless  candor, 
her  outspoken  truthfulness,  would  be  left  after 
three  or  four  years  of  life  under  their  g-uidance  ? 
Harold  was  conscious  of  almost  fatherly  com- 
passion and  tenderness  toward  his  young- -com- 
panion, and  yet  he  could  do  nothing  to  help  or 
save  her ;  his  interference  would  be  worse  than 
useless.  If  he  could  induce  Mrs.  Craven  to  es- 
pouse her  cause  ?  But  could  he  ?  He  thor- 
oughly distrusted  that  charging  personage, 
although  she  still  had  fascination  for  him.  At 
any  rate  he  would  call  on  her  and  endeavor  to 
find  her  real  disposition  toward  the  lonely  little 
heiress. 

All  this  passed  through  his  brain  rapidly,  and 
he  said  aloud  :  ''Mr.  Bond  appears  a  very  po- 
tent person." 

"He  is,"  said  Miss  Ashland,  with  a  little 
sigh.     "  I  cannot  get  any  money  except  by  his 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  61 

consent.  I  do  not  know  what  he  will  think  of 
all  Mrs.  Craven  talks  of  buying  for  me." 

"I  have  no  doubt  Mrs.  Craven  will  manage 
him,  if  any  one  can." 

More  desultory  but  friendly,  sympathetic  talk 
brought  them  to  the  door  of  Miss  Ashland's 
temporary  abode. 

"  Will  you  come  in  ?  "  she  said  ;  and  Harold, 
with  an  odd  feehng  that  he  was  in  some  way 
trespassing,  followed  her  into  a  rather  nicely 
furnished  room  of  the  "  Rooms-to-let  "  order. 

"  If  you  wil^  sit  down  for  a  moment  I  will  see 
how  Mrs.  Williams  is."  She  pointed  to  a  chair 
and  left  the  room. 

'*^  What  an  abode  for  an  heiress  !"  thought 
Harold,  glancing  round  at  the  furniture  and 
narrow  space.  "  I  don't  suppose  she  has  the 
faintest  idea  of  her  own  possessions.  She  ought 
to  be  informed.  I'm  half  inclined  to  tell  her 
myself.  I  earnestly  hope  fhey  will  tie  up  her 
money  strictly  when  she  marries  Nevin ;  for  I 
suppose  she  must,  she  can  hardly  escape."  He 
took  up  a  book,  it  was  Lew  Wallace's  ''Ben 
Hur";  he  took  up  another,  ''Little  Dorrit." 
He  looked  inside  the  cover  and  found  the  name 
"James  Ashland."  "A  volume  from  the  fam- 
ily library,  I  suppose,"  he  said  to  himself,  with 
a  smile. 

At  this  point  in  his  meditations  Miss  Ashland 


62  ALICE   ASHLAND, 

re-entered.  She  had  removed  her  hat^  and 
Harold  observed  how  niucli  better  and  more 
disting-uished  she  looked  without  it.  Her  head 
was  small  and  well  poised,  and  her  hair,  though 
pale  in  color,  was  abundant,  while  the  gentle 
composure  of  her  manner  and  movements  gave 
her  dignit}'. 

'•  I  must  not  ask  you  to  stay,"  she  said.  ''I 
find  Mrs.  Williams  so  unwell  I  must  attend 
her ;  and  the  dressmaker  sent  by  Mrs.  Craven 
is  waiting  for  me." 

^'  Then  I  will  not  trespass  any  longer ;  I  hope 
to  have  another  opportunity  of  seeing  your 
drawings.  As  j'^ou  know  Mrs.  Craven,  I  may 
see  you  at  her  residence." 

"  I  hope  I  shall.  You  are  very  good  to  have 
come  all  this  way  with  me.  Good-by  ;  and  tell 
me,  what  is  your  name  ?  I  did  not  heed  Mr. 
Watts  when  he  introduced  j'ou." 

"  My  name  is  Neale." 

"  I  think  I  did  not  notice  jonv  name  because 
I  was  taken  up  with  the  sort  of  likeness  I  saw 
about  your  eyes  to  my  father's.     Good-by." 

She  held  out  her  hand  with  a  grave,  kindly 
smile.     Harold  took  and  lightlj^  pressed  it. 

''If  I  can  ever  do  anj'^thing  for  you,"  he  ex- 
claimed, with  a  sudden  impulse,  '*  praj"-  remem- 
ber that  I  am  at  your  service."  Then,  half 
ashamed  of  his  speech,  he  beat  a  rapid  retreat. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  63 

"^  Every  one  is  very  good  to  me/*'  Avas  Alice 
Ashland's  reflection^  as  she  hurried  away  to 
the  g-rand-looking-,  overdressed  dressmaker,  of 
whom  she  was  a  little  afraid,  and  submitted  to 
the  ordeal  of 'drying-  on,"  having  been  previ- 
ously measured  under  Mrs.  Craven's  eye.  Faith- 
ful, however,  to  her  suffering  friend,  she  begged 
leave  to  show  herself  to  Mrs.  Williams  before 
she  took  off  the  garment. 

"  Is  it  not  pretty  ?  "  she  exclaimed,  drawing 
up  the  blind  that  Mrs.  Williams  might  see 
clearly,  '^The  skirt  is  to  be  trimmed  with  a 
quantity  of  the  saii^v.  lace,  and  bows  of  brown 
satin  ribbon  ;  they  look  lovely  against  the  tus- 
sah  silk.  This  is  called  a  simple  morning- 
dress  !  It  seems  to  me  too  fine  to  wear.  I 
wonder  what  Mr.  Bond  will  say?" 

'^  Ah  !  he  won't  mind  now,"  returned  Mrs. 
Williams,  with  a  sigh  so  deep  it  was  almost  a 
groan,  and  would  certainly  have  attracted 
Alice's  attention  had  she  not  been  hurrying 
back  to  the  dressmaker. 

"  You  seem  worse  than  you  were  this  morn- 
ing, dear,"  she  said,  returning  presently  in  her 
every-^ay  dress,  ^'and  you  look  as  if  you  had 
been  crying." 

'•'  Well,  you  see,  the  pain  has  been  very  bad 
and  I  am  that  weak — " 

Here  the  poor  woman  broke  down. 


64  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

*'I  will  get  you  some  beef  tea  and  a  g^lass  of 
wine,  and  then  I  will  trj'  this  wonderful  stuff. 
It  is  a  whitish  stick,  and  it  is  to  be  rubbed  on 
your  brow  until  the  pain  goes.''  And  Alice 
went  swiftly  and  silently'  to  and  fro,  procuring 
the  remedies  she  had  sug-g-ested,  and  Mrs.  Will- 
iams g-rew  more  composed. 

'^Whatever  will  I  do  without  j^ou,  Alice? 
The  sight  of  you  does  me  good." 

"  I  will  not  leave  you  till  you  are  quite  well 
and  strong." 

"  Ay,  but  you  must,  my  dear.  Brother  Bob 
has  been  here  while  j^ou  were  out  " — a  half- 
suppressed  sob. 

''Oh!"  cried  Alice,  ''he  has  been  here! 
Then  he  has  been  scolding  j^ou.  What  did  he 
say?" 

"Well,  he  was  a  bit  nervous,  but  alwaj^s 
anxious  about  you,  miss,  my  dear.  And  do  you 
know  he  has  even  been  to  see  that  Mrs.  Craven 
about  you  ?  And  you  are  to  go  to  her  Satur- 
day or  Sunday.  I  am  to  be  sent  home  because 
Chicago  doesn't  suit  me,  so  Bob  says.  He  has 
grown  wonderful  careful  of  my  health,  all.  at 
once  " — in  a  querulous  tone.  "  How  Tie  comes 
to  know  such  grand  people  as  that  Mrs.  Craven 
and  her  brother  is  more  than  I  can  tell.  Says 
he  knew  them  before  the  accident ;   anyhow, 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  65 

tliey  ^re  very  nice  and  civil  spoken,  and  Mr. 
Nevin  is  very  brave,  I'm  sure." 

"  Yes,  they  are  very  delightful ;  but  I'm  not 
g-oing-  to  leave  you,  or  to  be  ordered  about  by 
Mr.  Bond,"  cried  Alice,  indignantly. 

^^  Ah,  but  you  must,  my  dear.  Bob  is  in  real 
earnest  about  it.  He  had  up  the  landlady  and 
gave  her  warning  on  the  spot,  and  we  are  to 
be  out  of  this,  if  I'm  all  right,  by  noon  on  Sat- 
urday." 

"  Well,  Williams,  I  will  not  stay  long ;  I  will 
come  home  soon  to  you." 

"  Ah,  my  dear,  it's  little  I'll  see  of  you  from 
this  time  forth  forevermore,"  cried  poor  Mrs. 
Williams,  who  was  apt  to  grow  Scriptural  in 
her  sorrow. 

*'Why,  where  am  I  to  be  sent?  "  said  Alice, 
laughing.  ''I  cannot  be  kept  out  of  my  own 
home  in  Santa  Cruz." 

'''Ah!  you'll  soon  be  finding  another  home 
among  all  these  fine  people." 

"They  are  too  fine  for  me,"  said  Alice,  put- 
ting out  her  writing  things.  "  I  feel  quite  stu- 
pid among  them.  It  will  be  a  long  time  before 
I  find  another  home." 

And  she  began  to  write  rapidly. 

''You  remember  the  other  gentleman  that 
Mr.  Watts  introduced  to  us,"  she  resumed—"  I 
mean  the  dark  one  ?  " 


66  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

''Yes,  a  quiet,  grave  man." 

"I  met  him  to-day  and  he  rode  all  the  way 
back  with  me.  I  like  him  so  much  !  He  is  seri- 
ous and  g-entle ;  he  does  not  laug-h  at  every- 
thing like  Mr.  Nevin,  and  he  speaks  to  me  as  if 
I  were  a  reasonable  being.  I  could  tell  him  any- 
thing !  It  is  curious,  but  he  gives  me  the  idea 
that  he  is  sorry  for  me.  He  reminds  me  of  my 
father  when  he  used  to  look  far  away  and 
stroke  my  head,  saying:  'Poor  child— poor 
child ! '  "-' 

"  Well,  miss,  don't  you  go  and  trust  any  one 
too  much,  least  of  all  a  man.  "They  are  a  self- 
ish lot  the  best  of  them.  ISTow,  dear,  I'll  try 
and  sleep  a  bit." 

Alice  Ashland  had  led  a  singularly  secluded, 
monotonous  life.  She  had  been  the  sole  com- 
panion of  her  widowed  father.  When  he  died 
he  left  his  little  all  to  his  daughter— a  pretty 
residence  among  the  redwoods  of  Santa  Cruz 
and  about  a  thousand  dollars  a  year — appoint- 
ing his  only  friends,  Mr.  Watts  and  Mr.  Bond, 
her  guardians.  Bond,  having  a  sister  for  whom 
he  wished  to  provide  without  cost  to  himself, 
sent  her  to  his  ward  in  California  as  the  cheap- 
est mode  of  maintaining  both.  About  two 
j'^ears  before  the  beginning  of  this  narrative 
her  uncle  died  intestate  and  she  became  the 
owner    of    considerable    wealth,   as  we    have 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  67 

stated.  Alice  herself  knew  little  or  nothing- 
about  it.  Mr.  Watts  had  told  her,  but  no  al- 
teration had  been  made  in  her  mode  of  life. 
To  Bond  this  change  in  his  ward's  circum- 
stances was  a  positive  torment.  His  grasping- 
fingers  itched  to  clutch  some  of  the  riches  they 
could  touch  but  not  take.  To  find  a  suitable  (?) 
husband  for  his  ward  before  she  reached  the 
independence  of  majority  was  the  object  near- 
est his  heart,  and  we  have  alread}^  seen  how 
accident  favored  his  hitherto  baffled  search. 

It  was  a  trial  for  Alice  to  part  with  Mrs. 
Williams,  who  had  become  g-reatly  attached  to 
her ;  and  it  was  also  something  of  a  trial  to  go 
to  Mrs.  Craven's,  but  a  trial  not  unmixed  with 
pleasure. 

Though  all  her  life  a  recluse,  Alice  Ashland 
was  not  shy ;  she  was  naturally  brave,  and  dis- 
posed to  trust  her  fellow-creatures. 

'^I  will  write  often  and  tell  you  everything  ; 
you  may  be  sure  I  will  !  You  know  I  love  writ- 
ing ;  and  do — do  write  to  me !  If  you  are  not 
well  I  will  come  to  you,  I  iciil,  whatever  Mr. 
Bond  chooses  to  say." 

So  with  many  kisses,  Alice  bade  her  good  old 
companion  farewell,  and  took  her  seat  in  a  te- 
spectable-looking  carriage,  which,  to  her  sur- 
prise, had  been  engaged  by  Mr.  Bond's  direc- 
tions to  convey  her  to  Evanston. 


68  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

Mrs.  Craven  was  at  home  and  alone  to  re- 
ceive her.  She  was  ushered  into  that  lady's 
private  sitting'-room,  a  delightful  apartment, 
looking  into  a  beautiful  garden,  and  furnished 
with  all  that  could  charm  the  eye. 

"  Ah,  Miss  Ashland  !  I  am  so  pleased  to  see 
you,"  cried  Mrs.  Craven,  rising  to  greet  her 
with  g-reat   cordiality. 

"  It  is  really  very  good  of  Mr.  Watts  to  trust 
you  with  me  !  But  we  shall  take  care  of  you  !  " 
And  she  drew  forward  a  low  easy-chair.  "  You 
are  looking  pale  and  tired  ;  I  am  sure  you  must 
be  moped  to  death." 

"  You  are  very,  very  kind  to  ask  me  here," 
said  Alice,  earnestly.  ''I  am  so  different  from 
you  that  I  may  be  tiresome,  but — " 

"  I  shall  turn  you  out  with  inexorable  cruelty 
if  you  are  !  "  interrupted  Mrs.  Craven,  laugh- 
ing ;  "  but  I  do  not  anticipate  such  a  catas- 
trophe !  Now  you  must  leave  all  worrj^  behind 
3^ou ;  and  do  you  know  your  eyes  look  suspi- 
ciously like  tears  !  " 

"  Yes,  I  did  cry  a  little,"  said  Alice,  coloring". 
''I  was  so  sorry  to  see  Mrs.  Williams  g-o  away 
alone.  I  have  never  been  away  from  her  since 
she  came  to  me,  nearly  eight  years  ago." 

"  Very  sweet  and  nice  of  yon,  dear,  but  it  is 
time  you  broke  away  from  this  incongruous 
companionship.      That    good   old  woman   was 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  69 

only  fit  to  be  your  nurse  !  You  need  not  dis- 
card her,  but  you  have  been  shamefully  neg- 
lected and  kept  in  the  background.  Now  you 
must  be  introduced  into  society  suited  to  your 
fortune  and  position. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  am  not  suited  to  any  society, 
except  that  of  a  few  people  whom  I  like  and 
understand.  It  is  a  great  pleasure  for  me  to 
look  at  you  and  listen  to  you ;  I  wonder  if  I 
shall  ever  be  able  to  paint  you  !  "  said  Alice, 
with  simple  earnestness. 

"1  wish  you  a  better  subject/'  said  Mrs. 
Craven,  laughing,  though  she  felt  flattered  by 
this  honest  and  unstinted  admiration.  '^Mme. 
Abbott,"  she  continued,  "  has  sent  some  of 
•your  things,  and  I  see  you  have  put  on  one  of 
her  dresses.  Now,  come  with  me  and  I  will 
show  you  your  room." 

Alice  followed  her  hostess  upstairs  to  a 
pretty,  comfortable  room,  where  were  laid  out 
what  seemed  to  Alice  an  enormous  amount  of 
clothes — clothes,  too,  of  a  superb  description. 
Delicate  silks,  gauzy  grenadines,  fairj^like 
hats,  coquettish  mantles.  ''  What  a  quantity 
of  money  they  must  have  cost  ! "  she  cried, 
aghast.     ''What  will  Mr.  Bond  saj^  ?  " 

"  That  you  have  a  right  to  the  common 
necessaries  requisite  for  a  young  lady  who  is  to 
live  like  other  people,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  care- 


TO  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

lessly  ringing  the  bell  as  she  spoke.  Her 
summons  Avas  almost  imraediatel.y  answered  by 
a  young  woman.  "  There,  m\'  dear  Miss  Ash- 
land, is  your  especial  maid  !  She  will  attend  to 
your  toilet.  Johnston,  3'ou  had  better  do 
Miss  Ashland's  hair  before  luncheon  ;  she  has 
been  living  among  the  redwoods  of  California, 
and  I  trust  to  you  to  do  her  justice." 

At  lunch  the  onl}^  guest  was  Nevin,  who  did 
his  best  to  be  fascinating;  and  then  came  a 
crowning  joy.  Mrs.  Craven  ordered  her  car- 
riage and  conveyed  Alice  to  a  studio,  where  she 
feasted  her  eyes  with  the  drawings,  water- 
colors  and  beautiful  objects  scattered  about, 
while  Mrs.  Craven  arranged  terms  with  Sign  or 
Lucca,  a  fashionable  artist,  who  for  a  high  re- 
muneration instructed  Chicago  society  ladies  to 
sketch  and  paint.  They  then  drove  to  the  Fair 
grounds,  and  thence  to  the  city,  did  some  shop- 
ping at  the  famous  Marshall  Fields,  and  Alice, 
exhilarated  by  the  unusual  movement  and  vari- 
ety, found  herself  quite  equal  to  the  ceremony 
of  dinner,  as  she  had  never  seen  dinner  served 
before ;  an  introduction  to  Major  Craven,  who 
was  quite  ready  to  accept  his  wife's  new  favor- 
ite unquestioning,  as  he  never  interfered  with 
her  as  long  as  she  left  him  alone  and  did  not 
spend  too  outrageous  a  quantity  of  money. 

Meanwhile,  Harold  Neale  still  loitered  hy  the 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  71 

magical  "  White  City  "  on  Lake  Michigan,  un- 
willing to  leave.  He  was  strong  and  penetrat- 
ing enough  to  be  not  one  whit  blinded  by  Mrs. 
Craven's  real  nature,  and  yet  her  beauty,  her 
grace  and  her  evident  desire  to  atone  in  some 
way  for  her  past  heartlessness  dazzled  and 
fascinated  him,  Harold  had  long  ago  ceased 
to  feel  the  smallest  anger  against  her,  and 
there  was  a  dash  of  contempt  in  the  plenary 
absolution  he  had  extended  to  his  old  love, 
Mary  Craven. 

"  Why  should  I  dislike  her  for  being  what 
she  is  rather  than  what  I  thought  her  ?  "  had 
been  -his  reflection  years  back  ;  and  however 
brilliant  she  might  be,  the  core  of  his  opinion 
was  unaltered.  But  Mrs.  Craven's  beauty  and 
softness  appealed  to  his  senses,  and  Harold's 
were  still  fresh  and  keen.  He  could  not  help 
the  resisted  consciousness  that  his  old  love  was 
not  indisposed  to  sob  out  her  penitence  in  his 
arms  ;  and  he  knew — none  better — how  sweet 
those  ripe  red  lips  of  hers  used  to  be  in  the  de- 
lightfully delusive  old  days  when  they  sat  by 
banks  of  the  Hudson. 

He  therefore  found  it  very  pleasant  to  drop 
in  now  and  then  to  dinner,  though  he  scarcely 
went  as  often  as  he  was  asked. 

There  was  now  a  fresh  motive  for  his  visits 
to  Evanston.     He  was  also  anxious  to  see  how 


72  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

Neviii's  suit  prospered  ;  how  the  Httle  flower 
bore  the  atmosphere  of  tlie  splendid  hothouse 
to  which  she  had  been  transplanted. 

Mrs.  Craven  was  dispensing-  tea  to  Mrs. 
Wainwrig-ht,  Nevin,  Miss  Ashland,  a  youthful 
New  Yorker  and  a  very  thick-set,  elderly  man, 
with  a  small  allowance  of  neck,  who  breathed 
with  a  snoring-  sound  and  drank  his  tea  noisily. 
Alice  was  sitting  a  little  apart,  busy  with  some 
fancj'^-work.  Harold  could  hardly  believe  that 
dress  could  have  so  improved  any  face  and  fig- 
ure without  destroying  its  individuality.  A 
gown  of  soft,  creamy  material  all  ruffled  with 
foamy  lace  ;  her  soft  hair  arranged  a  la  Lang- 
try.  She  looked  like  a  modest  primrose,  and 
had  in  no  way  lost  her  air  of  delicate  quaint- 
ness. 

Harold  felt  a  sense  of  refreshment  as  his 
eyes  fell  upon  her,  and  she  met  them  with  a 
sudden  brightening  of  her  own  as  she  rose  to 
meet  him  with  an  honest,  unconcealed  expres- 
sion of  pleasure. 

"  Mr.  Neale,  I  thought  you  had  left  the 
Windj^  City,"  cried  Mrs.  Craven,  holding  out 
her  hand.  ^'What  has  become  of  you,  and 
what  have  we  done  that  you  should  cut  us  in 
this  way  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  wandering  to  and  fro,  as  usual, 
and  feeling  a  good  deal  out  of  my  element," 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  73 

returned  Neale,  making-  his  way  to  Miss  Ash- 
land after  greeting-  Mrs.  Wainwright  and 
Nevin.  "  I  scarcely  knew  you  as  I  came  in," 
he  said;  ''such  a  complete  transformation  is 
confusing." 

''  Yes/'  said  Nevin,  ''you  can  see  that  Mary's 
reforming  fingers  have  swept  the  lines  where 
rust  had  lingered." 

"  Really,  Wilfred,  you  are  absolutely  bru- 
tal ! — to  associate  rust  with  anything  half  so 
ethereal  as  Alice  is  too  absurd,"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Craven. 

"  The  necessities  of  rhythm  obliged  me  to 
curtail  the  word  rustic.  Miss  Ashland  is  strong 
enough  to  bear  the  truth  from  her  most  de- 
voted 2il\y.     May  I  not  say  so  ?  " 

This  in  a  caressing  tone  and  with  a  lingering 
glance. 

"  Indeed  3'ou  may  !  Any  one  can  see  I  am  a 
rustic,  and  will  most  probably  always  be  one," 
said  Alice,  with  a  good-humored  smile.  "  But 
I  should  be  dull  indeed  if  Mrs.  Craven  could  not 
improve  me." 

"  And  what  do  you  think  of  the  theater  ?  " 
asked  Harold,  who  had  drawn  a  chair  beside 
Alice. 

"I  like  it  better  than  anything  except  the 
Fair  and    the  studio,    and    even  better    than 


74  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

either,  sometimes,"  she  said,  earnestly.  "1 
cannot  sleep  afterward,  it  seems  so  real  to  me. 
I  think  over  it,  and  feel  so  glad  the  people  are 
made  happy  at  last.  I  have  never  seen  a 
tragedy  ;  I  do  not  think  I  could  bear  one." 

"  You  had  better  realize  the  unreality  of  the 
drama  before  you  risk  it,"  returned  Harold, 
smiling.  "And  how  is  Mrs.  Williams  ?  I  trust 
she  is  better." 

"  I  hope  so — I  think  so  ;  at  least  she  does  not 
complain  in  her  letters  ;  but  she  must  be  lonely 
without  me.  But  I  shall  go  back  to  California 
when  the  studio  closes." 

"When  may  that  be?" 

"  At  the  end  of  August." 

"  And  how  are  jou  getting  on  ?  " 

"  Slowly,  very  slowly  ;  yet  I  have  some  hope 
I  may  draw  pretty  well  j^et.  Will  you  come 
to  the  studio  some  day  with  Mr.  ISTevin  ?  He  is 
so  kind ;  he  often  comes  and  escorts  me  home. 
Is  it  not  good  of  him  ?  " 

"Very good,  indeed,"  returned  Harold,  while 
with  eyes  cast  down  he  thought :  He  has 
made  no  impression  as  yet ;  her  unconscious- 
ness proves  that.  "  Then  you  must  be  very 
well  employed,  with  art  in  the  morning  and 
gadding  about  the  Fair  or  the  city  the  rest  of 
the  daj'-,"  he  added,  aloud. 

"Mrs.  Craven  would  make  any  one  happy. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  75 

and  I  never  knew  what  it  was  to  live  before. 
I  was  happ3'  enoug-h,  but  only  half  awake.'' 

"  Then  have  you  turned  your  back  on  the 
humdrum  routine  of  country  life  forever  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  should  not  live  quite  as  Mrs.  Craven 
does.  I  like  to  go  to  bed  when  she  g-oes  out  in 
the  evening- ;  but  I  love  the  theaters  and  pict- 
ure galleries  of  the  Fair  and  driving-  in  the  parks. 
Then  every  one  is  very  g-ood  to  me,  only  I  do 
not  always  understand  what  thej^  are  talking- 
about.  I  am  never  quite  sure  if  they  are  in 
earnest.  Of  course,  I  am  very  ig-norant.  I  be- 
lieve I  should  be  happier  in  the  country.  I 
mean  to  have  my  home  there."' 

''There  is  little  that  is  homelike  in  either 
New  York  or  Chicag-o  life,"  said  Harold  ;  and, 
after  a  pause,  he  asked  :  ''  Who  is  the  stout 
g-entleman  ?  ' ' 

"  He  is  a  friend  of  Mrs.  Wainwright's  ;  she 
brought  him  here  a  few  days  ago.  He  is  a  Mr. 
Smith,  I  think  ;  but  Mrs.  Wainwright  calls  him 
by  some  funny  name.  He  has  lived  a  long 
time  in  Australia,  I  think,  and  he  is  very  rich." 

'•  What  treason  are  you  and  Harold  hatch- 
ing-?  "  said  Nevin,  coming  over  and  interrupt- 
ing- them.  ''  My  sister  suggests  we  go  to  town, 
taking-  in  the  Fair  en  route,  dine  at  'Rector's/ 
and  then  take  in  the  Coghians  in  '  Diplo- 
macy.'    Will  you  come,  Neale  ?  " 


76  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"Yes,  you  must,"  cried  Mrs.  Craven.  "  We 
shall  want  three  gentlemen  ;  Major  Craven  is 
otherwise  eng-ag-ed,  and  I  shall  be  all  ung-uarded 
if  you  will  not  come  and  take  care  of  me." 

Of  course  Harold  consented. 

Nevin  escorted  Miss  Ashland,  Mrs.  Wain- 
wright,  somewhat  to  Harold's  surprise,  pairing 
off  with  the  "  Kangaroo,"  as  she  called  him, 
while  he  himself  fell  to  Mrs.  Craven.  How 
beautiful  she  looked  !  How  brightly  she  talked  ! 
What  subtle  touches  of  tenderness  sounded 
through  her  lighter  tone  ! — and  yet  Harold  was 
unusually  indifferent.  His  imagination  would 
stray  away  after  Alice  Ashland  and  the  man 
who  had  appropriated  her.  Was  he  teaching 
her  to  love  him,  with  the  finished  art  of  long 
experience  ? — and  when  he  had  won  her  heart, 
and  annexed  her  money,  how  would  he  repay 
her  ?  The  sense  of  profoundest  pity,  of  guilt 
even — for  did  not  his  knowledge  of  the  whole 
scheme  make  him  an  accomplice  ? — oppressed 
him,  and  he  was  powerless  to  assist  her.  She 
was  so  defenseless,  so  friendless !  Why,  it 
would  be  better  for  her  to  marry  him, 

Mrs.  Craven's  voice  awoke  him  from  his 
reverie.  '^  Your  judgment  was  the  right  one," 
she  was  saying,  as  the  curtain  fell  on  the 
second  act  of  ''Diplomacy."  "Your  little 
protegee  is  really  very  nice.    Naturally  a  lady, 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  77 

but  frightfull}'  neglected  ,  she  does  not  seem  to 
'catch  on'  to  Wilfred's  love-making',  and  he  is 
really  most  persevering.  I  think  if  she  were  a 
little  responsive  he  would  grow  quite  fond  of 
her.  Reallj',  men  are  so  accustomed  to  be 
made   love   to   now  that — "     She   paused. 

'•'  It  must  be  rather  an  agreeable  change  to 
do  the  love-making  one's  self/'  said  Harold, 
laughing. 

"To  men  like  3'ou,  yes — but  joking  apart,  I 
am  really  interested  in  Miss  Ashland ;  I  want 
them  married  before  we  return  East.  Really 
Wilfred  is  nearly  at  the  utmost  ends  of  his  re- 
sources." 

''And  suppose  Miss  Ashland  proves  so  unen- 
lightened as  not  to  appreciate  Wilfred  ?  " 

"Now,  Harold  " — with  a  deprecating  glance 
— "do  not  be  a  bird  of  evil.  She  must  m^irry 
him  !  " 

"Dearest  Mary,"  said  Mrs.  Wainwright,  in 
an  aside  quite  inaudible  to  Neale,  ' '  I  cannot 
stand  the  '  Kangaroo '  any  longer.  Do  take 
him  off  my  hands,  and  let  me  have  a  turn  with 
your  brother." 

So  for  the  rest  of  the  evening  Miss  Ashland 
was  in  Harold's  charge,  and  both  felt  better 
for  it. 


AI.ICE   ASHLAND. 


CHAPTER   V. 


It  was  no  longer  difficult  to  attract  Harold 
Neale  to  the  Craven  residence.  He  Avas  ready 
to  come  on  the  slightest  provocation.  He  was 
due  home,  yet  he  lingered. 

Never  had  Mrs.  Craven  been  so  generally 
kind  and  considerate.  Alice  thought  her  an 
angel  disguised  in  a  fashionable  exterior.  Her 
brother  rejoiced  in  the  spell  of  sunshine,  though 
he  had  a  shrewd  idea  why  ''Mary  was  so  amia- 
ble." Harold  saw  too  clearly  the  utter  indiffer- 
ence which  underlay  Nevin's  apparent  devotion 
to  Alice  ;  he  fancied  that  some  instinctive  rec- 
ognition of  this  was  at  the  root  of  Miss  Ash- 
land's easy,  unmoved  friendliness.  For  Nevin 
was  a  favorite  with  women,  and  what  was 
there  to  guard  that  simple,  untaught  girl  from 
his  influence  but  instinct  ? 

He  felt,  without  the  slightest  disrespect  to 
her,  that  had  he  a  fair  field  he  might  have  won 
her  heart  and  made  her  happier  than  Wilfred 
Nevin  ever  could.  Her  girlish  curiosity  and 
frank  questioning  about  himself,  his  histor^'^,  his 
people,  half  amused  him.  Had  he  both  father 
and  mother  living  ? — and  sisters  ?— he  was  rich 
indeed  ! 

"Mrs.  Craven  was  like  a  mother    and    sis- 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  79 

ter  to  me  ;  but,"  added  Alice,  looking  down, 
"  I  feel  in  an  odd  wa,y  that  sometime  or  other  I 
shall  pass  out  of  her  life,  and  she  out  of  mine ; 
the  longer  I  know  her,  the  more  I  feel  how  un- 
like we  are,  and  when  she  has  time  to  see  it, 
too,  she  will  not  like  to  be  bored."' 

"At  present  you  are  a  prime  favorite,  so  let 
the  morrow  take  care  of  itself,"  returned  Har- 
old ;  "you  are  too  natural  and  truthful  to  bore 
any  one." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  I  am  very  glad  " — look- 
ing candidly  into  his  face  ;  and  Harold  thought 
how  charming  it  would  be  to  see  those  eyes 
avoid  his  with  the  dawning  consciousness  of 
love — love  for  him  only. 

Time,  however,  waits  neither  for  men  nor 
their  wooing,  and  Nevin  thought  he  had  served 
long  enough  for  Rachel ;  so  regardless  of  his 
sister's  warning  not  to  be  rash,  and  without  her 
knowledge,  he  persuaded  Miss  Ashland  to  staj'- 
at  home  one  afternoon  to  see  some  Hungarian 
photographs  he  had  purchased  for  her.  This 
afforded  him  an  excuse  for  a  tete-a-tete ;  and 
then,  to  Alice's  immense  surprise,  with  much 
fervor  he  made  her  an  offer  of  his  hand  and 
heart  and  high  social  position. 

When  Mrs.  Craven  returned  sooner  than  was 
expected  she  found  the  brother  pacing  to  and 
fro  in  deepest  anger  and  despair. 


80  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

"  The  ii^norant  little  savage  !*'  he  exclaimed. 
"  I  made  a  confession  of  my  feelings  that  would 
have  moved  the  Sphinx.  It  would  have  melted 
the  heart  of  an  Apache,  and  the  little  wretch 
was  simply  surprised,  confused,  overwhelmed ; 
yet  she  told  me  coolly  she  thought  I  had  mis- 
taken my  own  feelings — that  she  was  quite  sure 
I  liked  Mrs.  Wainwright  better  than  I  did  her- 
self !  that  she  was  too — too  something  or  other 
to  be  my  wife,  and  that  she  liked  me  so  nmch 
she  would  rather  marry  some  one  else." 

"Well,  Wilfred,  you  are  a  greater  fool  than 
I  took  you  for,"  said  his  sister,  frowning- 
sternly. 

Could  it  be  the  same  face  that  looked  up  so 
tenderly  in  Harold  Neale's  ? 

''You  tried  to  shake  the  tree  before  the  fruit 
was  ripe  ;  now  you  have  lost  the  g-ame.  What 
do  you  intend  to  do  ?  " 

"  To  do  !  How  do  you  mean  ?  I  acted  on 
your  instructions  and  made  an  ass  of  myself  to 
no  purpose.  By  Heaven,  I  shall  lose  my  char- 
acter if  it  is  known  that  I  have  failed  with  the 
unsophisticated  one." 

•'  You  must  not  fail,"  Mrs.  Craven  returned. 
"  I  must  repair  your  mistake.  I  wonder  I  have 
the  patience  to  speak  to  you  ;  you  have  been  a 
worry  to  us  all  your  life.  Noiv  you  must  be 
absolutely  guided  by  me. " 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  81 

''  If  3'o»  explain  your  plans  I'll  try  and  take 
them  in,"  said  Nevin,  who  was  considerably 
crestfallen. 

"Very  well.  Leave  Miss  Ashland  to  me  for 
the  present.  I  will  describe  your  heartbroken 
condition  and  rouse  her  compassion.  You  must 
g-o  out  of  sight  somewhere ;  it  will  be  the  best 
and  safest  Avay  of  showing-  your  despair." 

'*  But,  Mary,  I  cannot  go  without  cash  and  I 
tell  you  I  haven't  a  dollar.  You  must  get  Cra- 
ven to  ante  up." 

*'  It  would  be  no  use  to  ask  him  and  I  would 
not  do  it  if  it  were,"  returned  his  sister.  ''  The 
major  has  been  very  generous,  but  you  have 
tried  his  patience  too  far.  I  want  his  help  my- 
self ;  I  have  gone  far  beyond  my  allowance. 
Mme.  Abbott  has  sent  me  in  a  hideous  bill." 

' '  Then  yon  must  give  me  some  cash  yourself. 
I  will  run  over  to  New  York  and  Newport,  and 
I  must  pay  hotel  bills,  etc." 

"You  shall  not  go  to  either  place,"  she  in- 
terrupted. "You  shall  go  and  bury  yourself 
at  Peekskill,  and  I  wall  lend  3^ou  the  fare." 

"  Great  Heavens,  Mary !  What  on  earth 
am  I  to  do  at  Peekskill?  I  shall  cut  my 
throat." 

"  Better  do  that  than  live  on  a  beggarly 
gentleman,"  cried  Mrs.   Craven.     "  However, 


82  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

I  don't  mean  to  keep  3^011  long*  in  exile;  and 
there  is  tolerable  fishing." 

''I  hate  fishing-,"  ejaculated  Nevin. 

"  Old  Mrs.  Gibbons  the  housekeeper  is  a  very 
fair  cook.  In  a  week  or  two  I  will  bring  our 
little  startled  fawn  to  hear  reason,  then  you 
can  come  back  and  do  exactly  as  I  bid  you." 

"  Ought  we  to  communicate  with  that  old 
screw.  Bond  ?  " 

"  I  will  see  Mr.  Bond." 

**Well,  I  suppose  you  have  no  more  to  say?" 

'•^No.  I  never  was  so  angry  with  you  before. 
•'Really,  Alice  Ashland  is  too  good  for  you. 
I  suspect  you  have  been  betraying  your  absurd 
fancy  for  Mrs.  Wainwright  more  recklessly 
than  I  imagined,  to  rouse  Alice's  suspicions." 

"  Not  more  recklesslj^  than  you  have  shown 
your  absurd  fancy  for  Harold  Neale.  If  I  were 
■  Craven — " 

"  You  would  be  a  better  man  than  you  are," 
interrupted  Mrs.  Craven,  quietly  ;  but  her  eyes 
darkened  and  she  grew  pale  with  anger  ;  "  and 
not  put  evil  constructions  on  a  simple  natural 
liking  for  an  old  friend." 

Nevin  laughed  aloud  cynically. 

"  If  you  defy  and  irritate  me,"  said  his  sister, 
rising  and  standing  erect  before  him,  "  I  shall 
give  you  up  ;  hitherto  I  have  been  weak  enough 
to  care  what  became  of  you.     If  I  turn  against 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  83 

you,,  it  will  be  an  exceedingly  bad  day  for  you, 
Wilfred  Nevin."  She  opened  her  purse  and 
threw  him  a  couple  of  bills.  "  I  expect  you  to 
repay  me,  remember.  Now  go  ;  I  will  Avrite  to 
Snooks  in  time  for  the  mail." 

She  turned  from  him  with  a  look  of  contempt 
and  left  the  room. 

Mrs.  Craven  paused  in  her  own  sitting-room 
and  took  up  some  notes  and  letters,  glancing 
through  them  mechanicall3\  ''I  will  not  speak 
to  her  yet,"  she  thought.  "Let  her  chew  the 
cud  of  sweet  and  bitter  reflection  for  a  while. 
What  a  misfortune  to  have  tw^o  such  idiots  to 
deal  with.  How  did  I  come  to  have  such  a 
brother?"  What  was  Alice  Ashland  doing? 
Sitting  in  her  room  in  a  bewildered  frame  of 
mind.  What  would  Mr.  Watts  sauj  ?  ISTevin 
had  intimated  that  he  had  secured  her  guardi- 
an's consent.  Would  every  one  be  angry  ? 
Then  she  wondered  whj^  she  had  refused  him. 
It  was  curious,  for  he  was  nice  and  good-look- 
ing. Next,  fancy  suggested:  ''If  Harold  Neale 
had  asked  you  to  be  his  wife  would  you  have 
refused?"  Conscience  instantly  answered: 
"No."  Of  course,  he'd  never  think  of  ask- 
ing her. 

At  last  her  maid  rapped  at  the  door  to  say 
Mrs.  Craven  had  come  in  and  wished  to  know 
if  Miss  Ashland  would  not  have  tea. 


84  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

"No,  thank  you  ;  I  have  a  had  headache  and 
will  lie  down  till  dinner-time,"  said  Alice. 

"  Shall  I  hring  j'^ou  a  cup  of  tea  here,  miss  ?  " 

'*If  you  please,"  returned  Alice,  eager  to  be 
left  alone. 

Then  Mrs.  Craven  broke  in  upon  her  on  her 
way  from  her  dressing-room  to  the  carriage 
and  a  solemn  dinner  party. 

"  Oh,  yes  !  certainly  better." 

''Try  to  eat  some  dinner  or  supper  and  get 
to  bed  early.  I  hope  to  find  you  quite  well  to- 
morrow morning.     Good-night,  dear." 

A  gentle  kiss  accompanied  by  a  sigh  and  Mrs. 
Craven  was  gone. 

Alice  seldom  saw  her  hostess  in  the  morning 
before  she  went  to  the  studio.  Her  uneasiness 
and  fearful  looking  forward  to  the  meeting  that 
awaited  her  was  prolonged,  after  a  disturbed 
night,  through  the  hours  that  preceded  lunch. 
Nevin  had  disappeared. 

At  luncheon  there  was  only  Mrs.  Craven, 
who  received  her  kindly,  but  with  a  subdued 
and  pensive  air.  ''  I  feel  quite  good  for  noth- 
ing to-day,"  she  said.  ''I  shall  not  be  at 
home  to  any  one,  and  at  five  we  will  take  a  drive 
through  Jackson  Park.  There  are  a  few  people 
coming  to  dinner  and  I  must  brace  myself  for 
my  duties." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  85 

''It  will  be  very  pleasant,"  said  Alice, 
scarcely  daring-  to  look  up. 

"It  is  a  farce,  your  sitting  down  to  table," 
said  her  hostess.  "  You  are  looking  pale,  too, 
dear.     You  must  see  Dr.  Secomb." 

''I  think  I  feel  nervous,"  faltered  Alice. 

"  Come  with  me.  We  will  repose  ourselves 
in  my  room  and  have  a  nice  long-  talk." 

Alice  followed  her  as  if  to  execution. 

''It  is  certainly  delightful  to  be  quiet  some- 
times," began  Mrs.  Craven,  sinking'  into  a 
chair.  "  I  know  you  have  a  great  deal  to  tell 
me,  a  g"reat  deal  you  ought  to  tell  me,"  con- 
tinued Mrs.  Craven,  slowly  fanning'  herself ; 
"but  it  is  di£B.cult  to  begin.  My  brother  has 
told  me  that  you  refused  him,  and  I  am  awfully 
sorry  about  it  all." 

"So  am  I,"  said  Alice,  coloring  deeply.  "I 
have  been  deeply  distressed,  and  so  afraid  you 
would  be  angry  with  me." 

"  Ang-ry  with  you  !  Why  should  I  be  ang-ry  ? 
Very  disappointed,  I  own,  but  not  angry. 
But  I  am,  of  course,  very,  very  sorry  for  poor 
Wilfred  !  You  seemed  to  like  him,  and  might 
unconsciously  have  misled  him.". 

"But,  dear  Mrs.  Craven,  I  did — I  do  like  him, 
only  I  never  dreamed  he  would  have  thought  of 
marrying-  me  !    I  am  sure  you  do  not." 


86  ALICE    ASHLAND. 

**I  did  not  think  it,  because  I  learned  conij 
weeks  back  that  he  wished  to  marry  you." 

"And  you  were  not  vexed,  3'ou  did  not  think 
him  foolish  ?  "  cried  Alice,  in  astonishment. 

"No,  dear!  Listen  to  me,  Alice.  I  am 
worldly.  I  have  hard  edges  here  and  there, 
but  I  am  really  ver^^  fond  of  you.  Now  there 
is  much  in  j^ou  that  would  be  of  infinite  use  to 
my  brother.  He  took  to  you  at  once,  and  that 
is  an  unusual  thing  for  him.  I  am  therefore 
wofuUy  disappointed  when  my  pretty  air-castle 
crumbled  at  the  touch  of  your  cruel  fingers." 

"You  are  too  good,  too  indulgent  to  me," 
said  Alice.  "  But  I  do  not  think  I -could  ever 
love  Mr.  Nevin,  and  I  fancied  he  was  very  fond 
of  Mrs.  Wainwright,  which  seemed  much  more 
natural." 

"  Of  Mrs.  Wainwright  ?  "  echoed  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven. "  How  very  absurd  !  They  are  very  old 
friends,  and  in  a  sense  he  is  very  fond  of  her ; 
but  love,  m3^  dear,  that's  another  matter." 

There  was  a  pause. 

"My  greatest  regret,"  began  Alice  again, 
"is  to  have  disappointed  j^ou  in  any  wa3\" 

"I'm  glad  to  hear  you  care  a  little  for  me, 
Alice.  I  think  I  deserve  it  from  you.  But  not 
so  much  as  Wilfred.  Could  you  have  seen  him 
yesterday  I  think  you  would  have  been  sorry 
for  him.'    He  was  so  broken-hearted  !    ^  What- 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  87 

ever  happens,  Mar}^,'  lie  said,  'do  not  worry 
Alice,  do  not  in  any  way  resent  my  disappoint- 
ment.' He  talks  of  going-  to  China  or  Calcutta, 
or  some  other  dreadful  place ;  indeed,  I  did  not 
believe  Wilfred  could  have  felt  anything  so 
intensely  ;  he  was  as  white  as  a  sheet."  Mrs. 
Craven  fanned  herself  vigorously,  as  if  much 
moved. 

Alice  trembled,  and  the  tears  rose  to  her 
eyes. 

''I  wish  I  had  never  come  to  be  a  trouble  to 
you  !  "  she  sobbed.  "  What  a  return  this  is  for 
all  j^our  goodness,  and  Mr.  Kevin's  bravery  in 
saving  my  life  !  I  am  very  grateful  to  him  for 
caring  so  much  for  me,  but  —  " 

''Oh!  I  suppose  he  could  not  help  that,'' 
interrupted  Mrs.  Craven,  with  a  sad  smile. 
"I  know  that  some  time  ago  he  explained  his 
intentions  fully  to  your  guardians,  and  secured 
their  full  consent,  so  that"  no  difficulty  should 
occur  in  case  he  could  win  yours." 

"What  shall  I  do  ?  what  shall  I  do  ?  "  said 
Alice,  unconsciously  aloud. 

"  Are  3'ou  in  earnest  when  you  ask  what  you 
shall  do,  Alice?"  asked  Mrs.  Craven;  "and 
will  you  believe  that  I  am  disinterested  in  the 
advice  I  offer  ?  " 

"  Believe  you  !  Of  course  I  believe  you  thor- 
oughly." 


88  ALICE    ASHLAND. 

''Then  let  matters  stand  as  they  are.  Poor 
Wilfred  has  run  away  to  bury  himself  in  soli- 
tude. I  begged  him  to  go  to  our  farm  on  the 
Hudson  and  recuperate.  There,  I  will  not  say 
any  more  at  present ;  but  for  your  own  sake, 
do  not  throw  my  brother  away  too  readily',  or 
without  some  consideration.  Of  course  it  is 
very  likely  he  may  not  come  near  us  again 
while  5"ou  are  here.     But    should  he  do  so — " 

She  paused,  and  poor  Alice,  who  felt  as  if 
some  invisible  net  was  closing  round  her,  urged 
timidly  : 

"  I  suppose  one  ought  to  love  the  man  you 
marrj^  very  much  ?  " 

"  You  should  certainly  not  dislWiQ  him  !  But 
why  do  you  not  like  Wilfred  ?  Do  you  love 
anj^  one  else?  "  with  a  sudden,  almost  fiercely 
questioning  glance. 

"  How  could  I  ?  Whom  do  I  know  to  love  ?  " 
asked  Alice,  timidly.* 

''Very  true.  There,  I  really  think  we  have 
exhausted  the  subject,  and  you  have  made  j^our 
eyes  red.  Go  and  bathe  them,  dear,  and  do  not 
be  unhappy  ;  I  shall  always  be  your  friend." 

"  Ah  !  do,  do  be  my  friend  ;  I  have  ^o  few," 
and  Alice  ventured  to  pass  her  arm  through 
Mrs.  Craven's  and  to  press  her  brow  against 
her  shoulder  with  more  of  a  caress  than  she  had 
ever  dared  before. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  89 

"  Oh  !  rest  tranquil,  my  dear  girl.  I  am  very- 
loyal." 

Alice  hurried  away,  and  Mrs.  Craven,  rising- 
to  fetch  Zola's  latest  from  the  table,  looked 
after  her  with  a  slight  sigh. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

"  I  MUST  dine  at  the  Cravens  to-night," 
thought  Harold  Neale,  as  he  stood  on  the  deck 
of  one  of  the  steamers  that  ply  between  the 
World's  Fair  and  the  city;  '/but  I  will  get 
away  home  on  Monday.  I  am  making  a  fool 
of  myself  here." 

On  reaching  the  Grand  Pacific,  however, 
where  he  was  stopping,  he  found  a  letter  which 
compelled  an  earlier  start.  It  was  from  his 
father,  informing  him  that  his  mother  had 
taken  a  chill  and  had  been  attacked  with  the 
dreaded  pneumonia,  and  it  would  be  well  if  he 
could  return  home  at  once.  Harold  was  star- 
tled ;  something  in  the  tone  of  the  communi- 
cation alarmed  him. 

Mrs.  ISTeale  was  a  gentle,  fragile  woman. 
When  Harold  was  in  disgrace  with  all  the 
world  she  had  clung  to  him  and  helped  him  in 


90  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

his  hour  of  need.  This  Harold  never  forgot. 
He  loved  his  mother  with  all  the  strength  of  his 
steady  heart.  Her  daughters  were  married, 
and  provided  with  cares  of  their  own,  and  Har- 
old well  knew  the  loneliness  of  the  patient  little 
woman  when  he  was  not  with  her. 

So  he  wrote  a  hasty  line  of  excuse  to  Mrs. 
Craven  and  with  a  heavy  heart  boarded  the 
Michigan  Central,  sorry  for  those  he  was  leav- 
ing behind  and  for  those  he  was  going  to  meet. 

Mrs.  Craven's  dinner  was  less  lively  than 
usual.  Major  Craven  had  insisted  on  inviting 
two  ''pork  kings,"  who  could  talk  of  nothing 
else  but  pork.  And  Harold  was  absent,  so  was 
Alice,  to  whom  her  hostess  had  said  kindly  as 
they  returned  from  their  drive :  "1  daresa}', 
dear,  you  would  rather  lie  down  and  rest,  or 
get  into  j^our  dressing  gown  and  read  a  novel, 
than  put  on  evening  costume  and  sit  down  to 
dinner." 

">  Yes,  I  should  greatl}'  prefer  it.  I  want  to 
write  to  Mrs.  Williams,  too.  I  did  not  send 
her  a  letter  yesterday,  and  I  rarely  miss  doing 
so  on  Wednesday.  I  know  she  always  looks 
for  one." 

Alice  stayed  very  contentedly  in  her  room. 
She  pondered  long  and  deeply  on  all  Mrs. 
Craven  had  said,  and  wished  that  she  could 
please  ever^^  one  by  marrying  Nevin.     Wh}^  did 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  91 

she  not  love  him  ?  If  she  dared  speak  to  Mr. 
Neale  about  it  !     She  blushed  at  the  idea. 

Major  Craven,  who  had  alwaj's  been  friendly 
to  his  wife's  quiet  little  proteg-ee,  inquired  the 
reason  of  her  absence,  and  expressed  a  hope 
that  all  was  going-  on  well  betAveen  her  and 
Wilfred. 

"  Oh,  as  well  as  can  be  expected,"  re'turned 
his  wife,  laughing.  "  She  is  a  good  little  sim- 
pleton, and  not  too  ready  to  take  up  an  idea." 

"I  don't  find  her  dull  by  any  means,"  said 
Major  Craven.  '*It  is  quite  a  relief  to  meet 
an}'-  one  who  does  not  aim  at  talking  epigrams. 
Now  I  must  bid  you  good-night,  Mrs.  Wain- 
wright,  if  I  may  not  escort  j'^ou  home." 

The  company  had  by  this  time  departed,  all 
save  Mrs.  Wainwright,  who  remained  alone 
with  her  hostess. 

"  Craven  is  a  good  fellow,  Mary,"  said  Mrs. 
Wainwright.     "  You  are  a  lucky  woman." 

"I  daresay  I  am.  Now  let  me  talk  to  you. 
I  want  to  hear  what  Wilfred  said  yesterday. 
I  hope  you  scolded  him  for  his  folly,  his  rash- 
ness." 

''Your  brother  certainly  came  to  pour  Iikj 
sorrows  into  my  sympathizing  bosom,"  said 
Mrs.  Wainwright.  ''But  I  confess  my  warm- 
est sympathy  has  been  excited  by  his  being 
obliged   to   marry  such   a   mummy.     She  will 


92  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

bore  him  to  death.  But  there,  it  seems  if  he 
does  not  marry  her  he  may  starve  to  death.  It 
is" a  desperate  alternative."  ^ 

"  My  dear,  you  did  not  set  him  against  my 
poor,  rich  protegee  'f  He  is  rather  infatuated 
about  3'ou,  but  that  is,  you  know,  of  no  use." 

''  I  regret  to  saj'  it  is  of  no  use,  for  I  fmd 
your  brother  very  nice  and  most  amusing. 
What  an  idiot  Miss  Ashland  is  to  refuse  him  !  " 

"^  Yes.  I  fancied  it  would  have  been  a  case 
of  '  I  came — I  saw — I  conquered  '  with  Wilfred 
and  Alice  Ashland.  I  cannot  understand  her 
inditference." 

''Well,  I  think  I  do,"  remarked  Mrs.  Wain- 
wright,  drj^ly,  as  she  arranged  the  flowers  that 
adorned  her  dress. 

''You  do  !  Wh3^,  what  do  you  mean  ?  What 
are  j^ou  hinting  at?"  cried  Mrs.  Craven, 
eagerly. 

"I  think,  Mary,  that  you  are  quite  as  foolish 
and  a  good  deal  blinder  than  .your  brother. 
Alice  Ashland  does  not  care  for  Wilfred  be- 
cause she  has  already'  fallen  in  love  with  that 
interesting  companion  of  your  childhood." 

"  You  cannot  believe  such  an  absurdit}^" 
cried  Mrs.  Craven,  flushing  from  throat  to  brow. 
"  Why,  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing." 

"That  I  quite  believe,"  significantly.  "I 
am  a  quiet,  indolent  creature ;  I  let  others  do 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  93 

the  talking-,  but  I  see  a  great  deal.  Your 
brother  has  been  taken  up  with  me,  you  have 
been  taken  up  with  j^our  farouche  friend,  and 
I  have  watched  you  all." 

"And  what  have  you  seen?"  asked  Mrs. 
Craven  in  a  low  tone,  keeping  her  eyes  carefully 
cast  down. 

"I  have  seen  Miss  Ashland's  face;  and 
whenever  Mr.  Neale  appears  it  lights  up  in 
the  most  wonderful  way.  I  don't  think  the 
little  fool  is  the  least  conscious  of  her  own  feel- 
ings ;  I  protest  she  warms  up  into  absolute 
prettiness  as  soon  as  he  comes.  Now  she  dis- 
trusts Wilfred;  she  is  half  afraid  of  him." 

' '  But  how  preposterous  of  her  to  throw  away 
her  pale  fancies  on  Harold  Neale,  who  scarcely 
notices  her." 

'•'Ah!  are  you  sure  he  does  not?  My  im- 
pression is,  that  not  a  look,  not  a  word  of  hers 
escapes  him." 

"  Come,  come,  this  is  more  than  observation: 
it  is  creative  powei\" 

Mrs.  Wainwright  shook  her  head.  ''Your 
friend  has  \qyj  expressive  ej^es,  as  I  daresay 
you  know,  and  they  have  told  me  more  than  he 
imagines.  I  am  disposed  to  think  he  is  con- 
siderably further  gone  than  she  is." 

"It  is  impossible,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  in  a 
low,  deep  tone. 


94  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

''  Oh,  if  you  like  to  think  so.  Just  look  back 
over  the  past  month.  How  much  more  he  has 
been  at  -yonr  house  since  Alice  Ashland  went 
into  training-  under  your  supervision.  Remem- 
ber our  trips  to  the  World's  Fair.  Neale  had 
man}'  a  good  half-hour's  practical  tete-a-tete 
with  her  there  ;  indeed,  it  might  have  been 
longer  at  Lincoln  Park  had  I  not  sent  Mr. 
Nevin  to  break  it  up." 

"  I  do  not  think  Harold  would  try  to  cut  out 
Wilfred." 

''Perhaps.  But  once  a  man  is  in  love,  I 
should  not  give  much  for  his  g-ood  resolutions." 

"  Really,  dear,  you  don't  seem  to  think  there 
is  such  a  thing  as  principle." 

''  Oh,  yes,  I  do ;  but  I  suppose  he  is  no 
stronger  than  his  neig-hbors.  You  know  all 
about  that,  no  doubt,  much  better  than  any 
one  else." 

"  There  is  some  difference  between  a  man  and 
a  boy.  At  any  rate,  Harold  is  far  away,  or 
Avill  be  far  away  to-morrow.  He  has  been  re- 
called t^  Peekskill  by  his  mother's  illness." 

"^Well,  keep  him  at  a  distance,"  said  Mrs. 
Wainwright,  rising;  "\t  will  be  better  for  all 
parties.  I  must  leave  3^ou  now.  I  promised  to 
call  for  Mr.  Smith  and  take  him  to  Mrs.  Pot- 
ter's reception." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  95 

"  I  hope  affairs  are  prog-ressing-  smoothly  be- 
tween you  and  the  great  '  Kangaroo  '  ?  " 

"  Yes,  satisfactorily ;  so  much  so  that  I  re- 
gret bestowing  that  very  appropriate  nick- 
name. Good-night,  Mary ;  are  you  going  to 
bed  like   a   sober   citizen  ? " 

''I  am.  This  worry  about  Wilfred  has  up- 
set me." 

They  exchanged  adieus,  and  the  observant 
Mrs.  Wainwright  went   down  to  her  carriage. 

Mrs.  Craven  sat  and  studied  everything  she 
had  heard.  Had  she  been  so  fooled  and  blinded 
as  to  rejoice  in  the  frequent  lingering  visits 
which  were  due  to  another's  attractions  ?  The 
more  she  strove  to  reject  the  idea,  the  more 
corroborative  trifles  rose  in  her  memory  to  in- 
dorse Mrs.  Wainwright's  revolting  suspicions. 

It  was  bitter,  very  bitter,  to  the  proud,  pas- 
sionate woman  who  best  knew  what  advances 
she  had  made .  to  a  man  who,  she  began  re- 
luctantly to  believe,  .was  shielded  by  that 
strongest  armor,  affection  for  another.  It 
was  all  too  evident.  She  did  not  know  till  now 
how  he  had  absorbed  her.  She  meant  no  hai^ 
she  told  herself ;  yet  she  never  for  an  instant 
regretted  her  own  heartless  conduct.  To  see 
Harold  once  more  at  her  feet,  to  tell  him  she 
loved  him  and  bid  him  leave  her  forever,  this 
would  be  joy  ! 


96  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

Ah,  well  !  there  was  no  use  thinking-  about  it. 
What  needed  her  whole  force  of  mind  and  reso- 
lution was  to  accomplish  her  brother's  mar- 
riage to  Alice  Ashland. 

"She  shall  be  his  wife  within  a  month,"  she 
muttered,  rising-  from  the  cushions  where  she 
had  writhed  in  impotent  rage.  "  She  shall  be 
safelj"-  out  of  Neale's  reach  long-  before  they 
meet  ag-ain." 

She  turned  to  her  writing-table,  drew  a 
chair,  and  after  a  moment's  thoug-ht  wrote  a 
carefullj^  worded  letter  to  Harold  Neale — a 
charming-,  sj'mpathetic  epistle,  which  the 
major  mig-ht  have  read  with  perfect  impu- 
nity. 

She  thoug-ht  how  she  mig-ht  best  charg-e  her 
communication  with  the  venom  which  disturbed 
her  own  mind.  She  described  the  rapid  g-rowth 
of  mutual  love  between  Wilfred  and  Alice,  and 
concluded  her  letter  with  a  kindly  message  from 
her  brother,  which  would  convey  the  impression 
that  he  was  at  her  elbow.  And  then,  com- 
pletely restored  to  composure,  Mrs.  Craven 
ejiingpiiished  her  light  and  fell  asleep, 

f 

Alice  Ashland  longed  to  solace  her  depressed 
spirit  by  writing  a  full  and  true  history  of  the 
trial  through  which  she  had  passed  to  Mrs. 
Williams,  but  she  had  the  impression  that  it 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  97 

would  be  disloyal  to  Mrs.  Craven  and  Wilfred 
if  she  told  the  story  of  her  rejection  of  the  lat- 
ter. New  needs  had  sprung-  up.  She  could  not 
go  back  to  the  bare  existence  she  had  led  be- 
fore she  met  Nevin  and  his  sister.  Her  tastes 
were  quiet  enoug-h,  but  her  eyes  had  been 
opened,  and,  warmly  as  she  loved  Mrs.  Will- 
iams, she  felt  that  life  would  indeed  be  dreary 
had  she  no  other  companionship. 

Mrs.  Craven  saw  with  much  satisfaction  the 
pale,  pensive  face  of  her  young-  friend  g-row 
paler  and  sadder.  She  took  no  notice  of  the 
remarkable  fact  that  for  four  da3^s  Harold  had 
not  appeared.  This  silence  was,  in  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven's opinion,  a  bad  symptom,  and  she  deter- 
mined to  break  it  by  a  bold  and  masterly 
stroke. 

''I  forg'ot  to  tell  you  that  Mr.  Neale  has  been 
summoned  away — his  mother  is  dang-erously 
ill,"  said  Mrs.  Craven  to  Alice,  as  they  sat  to- 
gether in  the  drawing-room. 

'•' I  am  verj'- sorrj'-,"  exclaimed  Alice,  Yhying 
down  Harper^s.  "  He  is  very  fond  of  his 
mother," 

'^  I  did  not  think  you  knew  he  had  a  nrother," 
said  Mrs.  Craven,  sharply. 

"He  has  spoken  of  her  to  me  sometimes," 
said  Alice,  innocently,  quite  unepibarrassed. 

"  She  is  a  charming  lady.    I  was  g-oing-  to  say 


98  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

'old  lady/  but  she  is  so  youthful  in  appear- 
ance. I  like  Harold  ver}^  much,  too.  He  used 
to  be  such  a  good  fellow,  but  I  was  not  quite 
pleased  with  him  the  other  day." 

'indeed." 

There  was  no  curiosity  in  the  tone. 

''No,"  continued  Mrs.  Craven.  "I  thought 
him  too  manly  for  that  sort  of  self-conceit. 
Perhaps  I  ought  not  to  tell  you."  She  paused, 
and  Alice  looked  at  her  in  great  surprise. 

"We  were  talking  of  his  leaving  Chicago," 
she  resumed,  and  he  said,  with  his  grave  smile  : 
'  On  one  account  I  shall  not  be  sorry  to  leave  ; 
3^our  little  friend  shows  her  flattering  prefer- 
ence for  me  in  a  most  unmistakable  manner. 
It  would  really  be  touching  were  it  not  so 
funny,  and  I  am  not  disposed  to  fall  in  love  in 
return.'  " 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  The  color 
rose  slowly  to  Alice's  cheeks,  as  if  shame  and 
mortification  were  penetrating  her  soul.  Though 
she  did  not  dream  of  doubting  Mrs.  Craven,  she 
half  unconsciously  exclaimed  : 

"  Heiould  not  have  said  that." 

'•'  Oh,  if  you  imagine  I  invented  the  amiable 
speech,  why — " 

"  No,  no,  I  do  not ;  but  it  seems  impossible. 
I  found  him  so  kind  and — sensible.     I  did  like 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  99 

him  and  like  to  talk  to  him,  but  I  am  not  in 
love  with  him." 

"1  should  be  sorry  if  you  were,"  said  Mrs. 
Craven,  with  emphasis. 

"  Indeed — indeed  I  am  not.  I  am  more 
grieved  than  I  can  say  to  think  Mr.  Neale 
could  speak  of  me  in  such  a  way.  It  is  un- 
worthy of  him." 

"So  I  think,  and  so  I  told  him,"  said  Mrs. 
Craven. 

'•  Are  you  quite  sure  he  meant  me  ?  "  per- 
sisted Alice. 

"My  dear,  who  else  could  he  mean?  I  did 
expect  better  thing-s  from  Harold  Neale,  but 
it  seems  he  is  no  better  than  the  rest.  M}'- 
brother  would  never  talk  of  a  woman  in  that 
strain.  Though  it  is  rather  a  breach  of  confi- 
dence, I  am  almost  tempted  to  show  you  two 
letters  he  has  written  me  since  you  banished 
him." 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Nevin  mig-ht  not  like  me  to  see 
them,"  said  Alice,  shrinking-  back  from  the 
cruel  blow  just  dealt  her. 

''  He  need  never  know.  Do  read  them,  Alice. 
I  should  like  you  to  see  the  sort  of  nature  you 
have  rejected." 

Alice  read  the  effusions,  which  were  admira- 
bly composed,  full  of  veiled  sadness,  tender  and 
passionate  and  touching-  in  their  entreaties  to 


100  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

his  sister  not  to  withdraw  her  friendship  and 
protection  from  the  little  darling-  who  seemed 
to  have  no  one  to  care  for  and  watch  over  her. 
Alice  folded  them  up  and  returned  them  to 
Mrs.  Craven  with  trembling  hands  and  quiver- 
ing lips. 

"He  is  too  good.  I  do  not  desire  that  he 
should  think  so  much  of  me.  I  feel  quite  angry 
with  myself  for  not  loving  him.  But  I  am  very 
young,  Mrs.  Craven ;  need  I  marr3^  any  one 
just  yet  ?  I  don't  feel  as  if  I  were  fit  to  be  any 
man's  companion." 

*'My  dear  Alice,  were  you  any  one  else  I 
should  accuse  you  of  mock  modesty." 

"  No,  I  am  not  so  modest  as  you  fancy.  I  want 
to  learn  so  much  to  be  at  all  equal  to  you  and 
Mrs.  Wainwrig-ht  and — Mr.  Nevin."  Harold's 
name  came  to  her  lips,  but  she  curbed  herself 
in  time.  "  I  cannot  even  know  how  to  behave 
myself  or  —  or  Mr.  Neale  would  never  have 
spoken  so  cruelly  of  me,"  and  she  burst  into  a 
passionate  flood  of  tears. 

"Alice,  dear  child,"  cried  Mrs.  Craven,  de- 
lighted at  the  success  of  her  scheme,  yet  not 
unmoved  by  the  sight  of  her  distress,  "you 
take  a  mere  trifle  far  too  much  to  heart.  The 
boasting  of  a  man  like  Harold  Neale,  who 
really  knows  nothing-  of  society,  is  not  worth  a 
moment's  thought.     I  saw  nothing  whatever 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  101 

to  remark  in  j-our  conduct.  I  love  your  candor 
and  simplicit3^  Go  bathe  3'our  eyes  and  let  us 
drive  to  the  Fair.  Trust  me,  my  dear,  I  will 
always  be  j^our  friend." 

Alice's  heart  thrilled  with  warmest  grati- 
tude as  she  pressed  her  trembling-  lips  to  the 
soft,  smiling  mouth  of  the  beautiful  superior 
being  who  deigned  to  love  her. 

But  even  Mrs.  Craven's  boundless  condescen- 
sion could  not  console  her. 

Moreover,  she  recognized,  with  a  keen  sense 
of  degradation,  that  Harold  was  right.  She 
loved  him,  and  her  ideal  was  shattered.  She 
must  forget  her  own  folly  and  try  to  be  worthy 
of  the  friendship  so  generously  bestowed  on  her. 
Indeed,  she  was  almost  disposed  to  think  she 
ought  to  marry  Wilfred  Nevin  out  of  gratitude 
to  his  sister. 

"  Alice  is  already  disposed  to  regard  you 
with  a  sort  of  grateful  kindness  which  will  lead 
her  further.  I  suspect  Neale  has  been— know- 
ingly or  not — a  bit  of  a  traitor.  Be  ready  to 
start  for  Chicago  on  receipt  of  a  message  from 
me.  Keep  out  of  Neale's  way.  Your  letters 
do  you  credit ;  continue  them.  And  let  me 
have  the  guardian's  address — I  mean  Bond  ;  I 
maj'  want  to  see  him." 

So  wrote  Marv  Craven  to  her  brother. 


102  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

'  ''  Could  you  not  steal  a  march  on  your  schem- 
ing- sister  and  come  up  secretl}^  for  a  couple  of 
days  ?  I  feel  as  if  a  long-  talk  with  you  would 
do  me  good,  for  shortly  the  *  Kang-aroo  '  will 
have  me  forever,  except  now  and  again,  of 
course." 

So  wrote  the  charming  Mrs.  Wainwright  to 
the  exiled  lover. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

When  Harold  Neale  reached  Peekskill  he 
found  his  mother  in  a  critical  condition,  but 
slightly  better.  The  doctor  in  attendance  had 
wrestled  with  the  disease  successfull.y,  but  in 
her  weak  state  feared  a  relapse.  It  was  not 
until  she  had  been  carefully  prepared  that  the 
sufferer  was  allowed  to  see  her  son.  His 
mother  could  only  smile  faintly  as  Harold  bent 
over  her  and  took  her  thin,  nearly  transparent 
hand  in  his  with  infinite  tenderness.  He  could 
not  for  a  few  moments  trust  his  voice.  He 
knew  the  loneliness  of  her  life.  She  could  never 
open  her  heart  to  any  of  her  children,  except 
to  Harold,  the  strongest  and  most  combative 
of  them  all.  Between  the  mother  and  son 
there  was  profound  sympathy,  and  the  dream 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  103 

of  Harold's  maturer  manhood  was  to  make  the 
evening-  of  her  days  peaceful,  bright  and  full  of 
affection  and  warmth.  With  his  father,  Har- 
old had  little  in  common.  Mr.  Neale,  Sr.,  was 
narrow  and  domineering-,  and  years  of  rheuma- 
tism were  beginning-  to  enfeeble  him,  and  make 
his  stern  and  once  equable  temper  irritable,  at 
times  querulous. 

From  the  time  her  son  returned  Mrs.  Neale 
began  slowly,  very  slowly,  to  gain  strength  ; 
but  for  several  weeks  she  required  the  utmost 
care.  Her  son's  daily  visits  and  quiet  talk 
comforted  and  supported  the  mother. 

With  all  his  tender  care  for,  and  anxiety 
about,  his  mother,  Harold's  thoughts  often 
strayed  to  the  drama  he  knew  was  being  en- 
acted in  Chicago.  The  honest  preference  Alice 
had  shown  for  him  had  completed  the  charm 
she  exercised.  It  would  be  a  delicious  occupa- 
tion to  win  the  full,  womanly  love  of  this  deli- 
cate creature,  whose  gentleness  was  not  weak, 
whose  ignorance  was  not  dull.  What  a  con- 
trast to  his  first  stormy  love  affair  and  to  some 
slighter  experiences  through  which  he  had  since 
passed  !  Her  wealth  was  a  hindrance.  What 
had  he  to  offer  that  could  in  any  way  balance 
it  ?  He  was  pondering  these  things  with  more 
than  usual  bitterness,  because  his  anxiety  about 
his  mother  had  been  somewhat  relieved. 


104  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

While  lie  was  thus  meditating-  one  of  the  men 
of  the  farm  came  to  tell  him  that  a  gentleman 
at  the  house  wished  to  sec  him,  and  to  his  sur- 
prise he  found  Major  Craven. 

''  Surprised  to  see  me,  eh  ?  "  said  the  major, 
shaking  hands  cordially.  **  Chicago  got  too 
hot  and  dusty  for  me,  and  I  got  tired  of  the 
great  Fair,  but  Mrs.  Craven  means  to  see  it 
out ;  I  am  a  great  deal  more  comfortable  on 
the  Hudson,  anj'-hoAv." 

Harold  rather  liked  Major  Craven,  and  by  no 
ineans  envied  him  the  possession  of  his  peerless 
wife.  After  a  long  and  rambling  talk,  he  reverted 
again  to  his  wife.  "  I  never  knew  Mrs.  Craven 
stay  so  long  in  either  Chicago  or  New  York, 
she  generally  wants  to  quit  earlier  ;  but  she 
is  on  another  tack  now,"  he  nodded  knowingly. 
"  Of  course  you  are  in  the  secret  !  It's  her 
anxiety  about  her  brother  that  is  keeping  her. 
You  know  what  a  slipper^''  fellow  Nevin  is.  He 
has  given  Mrs.  Craven  lots  of  trouble.  It's 
quite  natural  she  should  try  and  secure  that 
heiress  she  has  picked  up  for  him ;  nice  little 
girl — too  good  for  Wilfred,  I  think." 

Harold  murmured  an  inarticulate  assent. 

'*  Yes ;  it  has  given  Mrs.  Craven  a  lot  of 
trouble.  She  doesn't  think  I  know  it,  but  I 
do  !  "  he  chuckled.  ''She  is  far  too  spunky  to 
confess  herself  beaten  if  she  can  help  it,  and  so 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  105 

I  say  nothing ;  but  I'm  pretty  sure  Wilfred 
was  refused.  I  suspect  mj--  precious  brother-in- 
law,  thoug-h,  is  much  more  cut  up  about  Mrs. 
Wain  Wright's  engagement  to  old  Smith,  which 
has  just  been  announced." 

"  Has  it  ?  "  cried  Harold,  with  vivid  interest, 
his  heart  beating  quickly  at  the  dim,  delightful 
possibility  suggested  bj^  Craven's  revelations. 

"  Ay  !  it  is  a  good  thing ;  it  will  be  diamond 
cut  diamond  with  them;  but  the  poor  little 
Californian,  Alice  Ashland,  that  is  a  different 
matter.  However,  I  can't  interfere.  I'm  quite 
sure  my  wife  is  biding  her  time ;  she'll  bring 
up  her  man  to  the  scratch  again.  She  holds  on 
like  grim  death  to  anything  she  takes  up. 
You  used  to  be  chums  in  your  boy-and-girl 
days,  she  tells  me,  and  she  is  one  who  never 
forgets  old  times.  I  can  tell  you,  yow  are  a 
prime  favorite  still," 

After  the  major  left  Harold  went  to  sit 
a  while  with  his  mother, as  was  his  wont  in  the 
afternoon,  but  he  scarce  knew  what  he  talked 
about.  That  Nevin  had  been  refused  was  more 
than  he  expected.  He  did  not  anticipate  such 
decision  on  Alice's  part. 

It  was  by  an  effort  he  brought  his  thoughts 
under  control,  and  compelled  himself  to  show 
his  usual  care  in  trying  to  amuse  and  interest 
the  invalid. 


106  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

She  was  surprised  and  pleased  to  hear  of  the 
major's  visit.  The  little  description  of  Major 
Craven's  appearance  and  its  results  excited  and 
fatigued  her.  Harold,  therefore,  seeing-  she  was 
inclined  to  sleep,  left  her  earlier  than  he  usually 
did,  and  calling  his  favorite  dog,  set  forth  on 
a  solitary  ramble,  to  commune  with  his  own 
heart,  to  search  out  his  spirit,  and  strive  to 
come  to  some  conclusion  respecting  his  future 
line  of  conduct. 

As  he  pressed  up  the  side  of  the  historic 
Catskills  with  firm,  elastic  tread,  his  spirits 
rose,  his  purpose  disengaged  itself  from  the 
mist  of  doubt  and  depression  which  had  blurred 
it,  and  at  length,  reaching  a  shad^^  nook,  where 
many  a  time  in  bygone  days  he  had  secluded 
himself  to  plan  his  future,  or  to  think  of  beau- 
tiful Mary  ISTevin,  he  lay  down,  and  the  dog  sat 
gravely  beside  him  with  an  air  of  alertness,  as 
if  determined  to  keep  watch  while  his  master 
slept  or  rested. 

But  sleep  and  dreams  were  far  from  Harold's 
brain.  His  thoiights  began  to  take  order.  If 
Nevin  had  tried  his  hand  and  failed,  one  bar- 
rier to  his  own  progress  was  removed.  Why 
should  he  not  do  his  best  to  win  what  he  so 
ardently  desired  ?  How  was  it  that  he  had  so 
quickly  grown  to  love  this  quiet,  half-developed 
girl  ?    Only  his  heart  answered  :  "  I  love  her." 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  107 

What  a  restful  home  such  a  woman  could 
make  !  And  this  defenseless  creature  was  at 
the  mercy  of  mere  intrig'uers,  reckless  of  her 
happiness.  It  was  the  dutj'  of  any  disinterested 
friend  to  rescue  her  if  possible. 

"  She  liked  me  better  than  any  of  the  rest — 
I  think  she  did  ;  but  I  oug-ht  not  to  be  too  sure. 
I  am  half  inclined  to  try  my  luck.  If  I  fail;  she 
would  be  no  worse  off  than  she  is  now.  If  she 
cares  for  me,  I  could  make  her  happy  in  her  own 
way.  I  wish  she  hadn't  that  pot  of  money.  I'd 
rather  she  hadn't  a  rap  ;  it  would  only  make  me 
more  eager  to  marry  her !  Then  she  is  so 
lonely,  so  unprotected  !  Old  Mrs.  Williams  is 
a  fine  old  woman,  but  no  companion  for  Alice. 
How  desolate  she  is  !  I  must  make  my  father 
come  to  a  definite  arrang-ement.  '  The  laborer  is 
worthy  of  his  hire.'  " 

Then  the  regular  sequence  of  thought  became 
confused  with  sweet,  glowing*  visions  of  perfect 
understanding,  of  rest  and  security,  of  gentle 
caresses.  Yes,  as  soon  as  his  mother  was  a 
little  stronger  he  would  return  to  Chicago  and 
risk  an  avowal  of  his  hopes  and  fears.  When 
could  he  start  ?  His  mother  was  distinctly  out 
of  danger,  and  his  sister  could  stay  a  couple  of 
weeks  longer.  Yes,  he  would  tell  his  mother 
that  a  matter  of  vital  importance  required  his 
presence  in  Chicago,  and  she  would  let  him  go. 


108  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

Soon  he  hoped  to  return  Avith  news  that  would 
comfort  and  cheer  her. 

So,  in  a  restless  but  hopeful  mood,  Harold 
Neale  rose  up,  a  clear  purpose  once  more 
steadying  his  will,  and  walked  home  less  rap- 
idly than  he  had  set  forth. 

At  the  entrance  he  met  his  sister  with  a  let- 
ter in  her  hand.  "  Oh,  Harold,  I  have  been 
looking  everywhere  for  you.  I  have  just  heard 
from  Walter  "  (her  husband).  ''His  uncle  is 
going  back  to  Texas,  and  has  wired  us  to  say 
he  is  coming  to-morrow  for  a  Aveek  just  to  bid 
us  good-b3%  and  I  must  be  at  home  to  do  the 
honors,  for  you  know  he  is  a  very  important 
personage  to  us,  and  really,  mother  would 
rather  have  j'^ou  than  any  of  us." 

"But  wait  a  bit,  Annie.  I  want  very  much 
to  go  to  Chicago." 

"  I  am  really  very  sorry,  Harold,  but  I  can- 
not stay.  I  have  ordered  Tod  to  bring  round 
the  buggy  ;  I  can  just  catch  the  5:20  and  reach 
home  about  nine." 

Harold  was  fairly  caught.  Destinj-^  was  too 
strong  for  him.  He  could  not  leave  his  mother, 
and  his  sister's  absence  was  prolonged.  Mean- 
time letters  of  tender  inquiry  from  Mrs.  Craven, 
both  to  Harold  and  the  invalid,  came  frequently, 
but  with  rare  mention  of  Alice.  Yet  Harold 
could  make  out  that  she  was  still  residing  with 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  109 

her  fascinating-  protectress.  At  last  his  sister 
returned  to  take  her  place  beside  the  delicate 
mother,  and  the  same  day  Harold  Neale  set 
out  for  Chicago. 

Mrs.  Craven  was  growing  cross  and  impa- 
tient ;  she  was  tired  of  the  Windy  City  and  its 
"greatest  show  on  earth."  She  had  several 
tempting  invitations  to  join  some  friends  at 
Newport  and  one-  still  more  attractive  within 
a  dozen  miles  of  Peekskill.  ''If  only  Alice 
could  make  up  her  mind  to  marry  Wilfred  and 
have  done  with  it." 

Still  she  kept  a  fair  face  and  watched  un- 
ceasingly for  the  right  moment  at  which  Nevin 
might  reappear, 

Alice  was  very  still  and  humble,  looking  and 
feeling  miserable.  She  had  learned  enough  of 
Ward  McAllister's  world  to  know  that  Mrs. 
Craven  would  be  leaving  Chicago,  and  still 
nothing  was  said  about  Alice  accompany- 
ing her. 

''1  ought  to  prepare  for  returning  home, 
dear  Mrs.  Craven,"  said  Alice,  timidly,  one 
morning  when  the  servants  had  left  the  room. 

"Not  yet,  Alice.  I  shall  be  leaving  Chicago 
for  a  few  weeks  and  I  need  not  say  how  much  I 
need  you  to  stay  with  me.  Besides — but  I  don't 
like  to  talk  of  future  plans  just  yet.     Tell  me, 


110  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

dear,  would  it  annoy  j'ou  if  Wilfred  were  to 
come  here  ?  I  want  ver^-  much  to  see  him.  He 
writes  to  say  he  wants  to  g-o  to  Mexico,  or  any- 
wiiere  out  of  the  States  " — with  a  sig-h  ;  "and 
you  need  not  mind,  for  he  has  resolved  to  be 
your  friend,  if  he  can  be  no  more." 

"  Of  course  I  cannot  expect  .to  banish  your 
brother,  and  I  am  very  grateful  to  him  for 
wishing-  to  be  vay  friend,"  said  Alice,  coloring- 
and  looking  embarrassed.  "  But  the  studio 
will  soon  be  closed,  and  then  I  think  I  oug-ht  to 
return  to  iwy  old  home  and  poor  Mrs.  Williams. 
You  have  taught  me  much  and  done  me  a  g-reat 
deal  of  g-ood." 

"  Poor,  dear  child,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  "  how 
frig-htfully  dull  it  will  be  for  you  !  " 

"1  never  used  to  be  dull  at  Santa  Cruz,"  re- 
turned Alice,  thoughtfullj' ;  '^  yet  somehow  I 
feel  as  if  I  should  be  now." 

"You  must  not  stay  there  long,"  said  Mr^. 
Craven.  "When  do  you  say  your  studio 
closes  ?^' 

"On  the  19th." 

"  Why,  that  is  only  tw^o  weeks  off,"  and  Mrs. 
Craven  was  silent  for  a  few  minutes ;  then 
apologizing  for  leaving-  Alice,  she  soon  after 
went  out. 

Alice  was  accustomed  to  be  left  alone  of  late  ; 
she  did  not  in  the  least  resent  Mrs.  Craven".: 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  Ill 

desertion ;  she  accepted  it  as  unavoidable,  but 
it  depressed  her  with  the  sense  of  being  of  no 
importance  to  an}^  one.  Moreover,  that  ter- 
rible speech  of  Neale's,  as  reported  to  her,  had 
destro3^ed  her  self-reliance.  If  her  conduct  was 
such  as  to  create  so  false  an  impression,  the  less 
she  saw  of  strangers  and  society  the  better, 
A  feeling  of  gratitude  toward  ISTevin  began  to 
develop  in  her  heart,  though  she  did  not  wish 
to  see  him,  for  she  had  never  felt  quite  at  ease 
with  him. 

She  had  been  full  of  these  thoughts  as  she 
walked  back  after  her  morning's  work,  a  couple 
of  days  after  the  above  conversation,  and  rang 
the  door-bell  almost  mechanically. 

"  Mrs.  Craven  is  in  the  drawing  -  room, 
ma'am,"  said  the  servant,  waving  her  hand 
invitingly  in  that  direction. 

Alice,  taking  it  for  granted  that  her  hostess 
wished  to  speak  to  her,  walked  into  the  room, 
but  instead  of  Mrs.  Craven  she  found  a  gentle- 
man reading  a  newspaper.  At  the  sound  of  the 
opening  door  he  threw  it  aside  and  started  to 
his  feet.     It  was  Wilfred  Nevin. 

Alice  could  scarcelj^  resist  the  desperate  in- 
clination to  run  away;  she  was  startled, 
ashamed,  disposed  to  cry.  Nevin  looked  ill, 
too,  and  less  debonair  than  usual.  He  has- 
tened to  put  her  at  her  ease. 


112  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

'•'  I  am  inclined  to  apologrize  for  being  here, 
Miss  Ashland,'*  he  said,  pressing  her  hand  for 
a  moment.  "  I  really  did  not  think  there  was 
any  chance  of  our  meeting  this  morning,"  and 
he  smiled  pleasantly.  "As it  has  so  happened, 
may  I  speak  frankly — may  I  beg  you  to  let  by- 
gones be  b3'gones  ?  Allow  me  the  privilege  of 
friendship  during  the  short  time  I  shall  be  in 
America.  It  would  make  my  last  days  with 
my  sister  so  much  brighter."  He  paused  sud- 
denly, as  if  in  great  emotion. 

''You  are  very  kind,"  cried  Alice,  delighted 
with  the  proposition.  "  I  shall  be  so  glad  to 
have  3'-ou  for  a  friend.  It  is  more  than  I  could 
expect  that  you  should  care  for  mj^  friendship." 

''You  know  how  much  I  cared,"  began 
Nevin,  but  checking  himself.  "We  are  not  to 
revert  to  bygones.  Tell  me,  how  are  your 
studies  progressing  ?  I  expect  to  see  great 
things.  I  assure  you  I  often  wished  you  could 
have  seen  the  Catskills  or  the  Palisades  on  the 
Hudson.  I  was  always  finding  subjects  for 
sketches  ;  indeed,  I  was  almost  tempted  to  try 
my  own  hand,"  etc.,  etc. 

And  Ahce,  a  good  deal  to  her  surprise,  found 
herself  launched  into  an  easj^  conversation  on 
art  and  scenery  with  the  man  she  shrank  from 
meeting  three  short  hours  ago. 

'•  Wh3%  Alice,"  cried  Mrs.  Craven,  coming  in 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  113 

quickly,  "I  had  no  idea  you  were  here."  She 
spoke  in  a  tone  of  surprise. 

A  little  pleasant  chat  ensued,  then  Nevin  said 
he  had  promised  to  call  on  some  friends  and 
rose  to  go. 

*'  Come  back  to  dinner,"  said  his  sister,  "  and 
be  sure  you  do  nothing'  rash — nothing  at  all, 
indeed,  until  you  consult  me." 

Nevin  laughed,  bowed  to  Alice  and  with- 
drew. 

"He  is  looking  wretchedly'- ill,  isn't  he  ?  "  said 
Mrs.  Craven,  turning  to  Alice.  "  Poor  fellow, 
I  am  so  glad  you  have  got  jowo  meeting  over  in 
this  accidental  way  ;  it  would  be  foolish  not  to 
be  good  friends  ;  indeed,  there  is  no  reason  why 
you  should  not." 

ISTevin's  return  appeared  to  break  the  spell  of 
undefined  discomfort  that  had  oppressed  both 
Alice  and  her  hostess.  He  made  himself  a 
pleasant,  unobtrusive  companion.  He  talked 
of  his  future  life  in  remote  regions  and  ex- 
pressed a  manly  regret  for  his  wasted  youth,  his 
lost  opportunities.  Alice  began  to  feel  like  an 
indulgent  sister  to  a  prodigal  but  penitent 
brother. 

Mr.  Robert  Bond  was  busy  as  usual  over  his 
papers  and  accounts  one  sultry  morning.  He 
wore  a  look  of  satisfaction  ;  a  fresh  victim  had 


114  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

just  effected  a  loan  through  his  ''agenc}',"  as 
he  termed  it,  and  he  had  been  calculating-  his 
immediate  and  prospective  gains.  In  this 
agreeable  occupation  he  was  roused  by  the  en- 
trance of  his  shock-headed  boy,  who  placed  a 
note  before  his  master,  and  said,  interroga- 
tively :  "See  her  ?  " 

Mr.  Bond  shoved  his  glasses  a  little  nearer 
his  eyes,  opened  the  note  and  read  :  "  Can  you 
speak  to  Mrs.  Craven  for  a  few  minutes?  " 

"  O  Lord  !  "  ejaculated  Bond,  in  a  low  tone, 
hastily  folding  up  the  note  again.  "  A.j,  let 
her  come  in — let  her  come  in." 

He  started  up  and  pushed  away  his  chair, 
and  was  half-way  across  the  room  when  his 
visitor  entered. 

What  an  apparition  of  loveliness  for  his  sor- 
did chamber !  A  very  perfect  costume  of  sil- 
very-gray satin  and  grenadine  and  shiny  gray 
beads  ;  a  bonnet,  also  gray,  with  downj^  soft 
feathers,  tipped  Mith  silver,  in  the  Mesdames 
McCrae's  best  style;  gloves  and  shoes  and 
parasol  all  delicately  matching,  lent  to  and 
borrowed  from  the  wearer  additional  beauty. 
Even  old  Bond  was  impressed  and  hesitated 
how  to  address  this  dazzling  vision. 

With  a  half -surprised,  half  -  contemptuous 
glance  Mrs.  Craven  took  in  the  details  of  the 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  115 

room  and  recognized  the  effect  she  produced  on 
the  owner. 

"  Do  3'ou  know  who  I  am  ? "  she  asked, 
showing-  her  white  teeth  with  a  frank,  amused 
smile. 

"  I  think  I  do,  I  think  I  do,  ma'am  ;  mj'- 
lady,  you  are  Mr.  Kevin's  sister ;  let  me  give 
you  a  chair." 

''  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  my  brother  and 
your  ward,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  seating  herself. 

"I  am  sure,  ma'am,  I'm  all  attention.  It's 
a  long  time  since  I  heard  an3^thing  of  them  ; 
and,  indeed,  I  did  not  think  your  brother  was 
the  sort  of  man  to  let  the  grass  grow  under  his 
feet." 

''On  the  contrary,  his  precipitancy  has 
nearly  ruined  all  our  plans.  I  say  'our,'  Mr. 
Bond,  for,  though  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of 
knowing  j'ou,  I  know  all  your  plans  and  the 
bargain  you  made  with  my  brother." 

"  Eh  !  do  you  know  ?  "  grinning  confusedly, 
and  pressing  the  nib  of  a  pen  on  a  rather  black 
thumb-nail.  "Well,  I  did  think  that  little — a 
— agreement  was  to  be  a  secret  between  Mr. 
Nevin  and  m^^self,  of  course." 

"Of  course,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Craven.  "It 
was  quite  right  and  natural  that  he  should  con- 
fide the  whole  affair  to  me,  especially  as  neither 
of   you   could   have   carried   out  your   scheme 


116  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

without  mj'  help.  It  is  equally  natural  that 
you  should  look  after  your  own  interests, 
thoug-h  straitlaced  people  might  say  the  means 
you  took  to  secure  them  were  not  exactly  cred- 
itable." 

'•'  Well,  you  see,  as  mj^  friend  Teddy  says, 
what  people  say  of  me  doesn't  reach  my 
ears,"  returned  Bond,  with  a  deprecatory 
writhe,  rubbing  his  hands  tog-ether.  ''And 
how  is  Mr.  Nevin  getting  on,  may  I  be  so  bold 
as  to  ask?  " 

"He  is  not  getting  on  at  all,"  cried  Mrs. 
Craven,  with  a  burst.  "  He  is  such  an  impa- 
tient creature,  and  your  ward  is  an  obstinate 
simpleton.  He  proposed  too  soon,  and  she  re- 
fused him." 

•'  Great  Scott  !  think  of  that  now.  Such  a 
fine,  elegant  gentleman.  I  didn't  think  any 
young  lady  would  say  him  nay,"  and  Bond 
began  nervously  to  gather  up  the  papers  which 
la}'-  about  and  sort  them  in  an  unconscious 
way.  "And  do  you  mean  to  say  thej^  cannot 
agree  ?  " 

"I  intend  that  they  shall  agree,"  said  Mrs. 
Craven,  closing  her  mouth  firmly. 

"  Then,  what  do  3'ou  mean  to  do,  mj^  lady — I 
mean  ma'am  ?  "  asked  Bond,  again  nibbling  the 
top  of  his  pen. 

"Listen.     I  have  not   much  time  to  spend 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  117 

here,  and  if  3'ou  intend  to  get  your  money  you 
must  help  me.  I  suspect  that  Miss  Ashland 
has  taken  a  fanc}^  to  a  very  unsuitable  person, 
whom  she  unfortunately'-  met  at  my  residence, 
and  one  who  would  not  lose  an  atom  of  his  just 
rights  to  save  your  life.  He  would  be  more 
likely  to  expose  what  he  considered  a  fraud 
than  lend  himself  to  anj^  little  arrangement 
that  might  facilitate  matters.  In  short,  he 
must  not  interfere  with  my  brother." 

'' N"o,  certainly  not ;  that's  right." 

Mrs.  Craven's  ej^es  rested  with  unspeakable 
disdain  on  the  withered,  ignoble  face  oppo- 
site her. 

'^I'm  sure  you  have  only  to  command  me," 
added  Bond. 

''I  have  managed  to  bring  my  brother  and 
Miss  Ashland  together  again,  and  she  is  play- 
ing at  friendship  with  him.  Let  them  pursue- 
that  game  for  a  while,  then  you  must  strike  a 
blow  and  cut  off  her  retreat.  Your  sister  is 
her  companion?  " 

"  She  is." 

"  And  I  presume  you  have  a  good  deal  of  in- 
fluence on  Mrs. — " 

''Williams,"  put  in  Bond.  ''Yes,"  rubbing 
his  hands  softly,  "  I  rather  thmli  I  have." 

"Then  you  must  make  her  give  up  her  en- 
gagement with  Miss  Ashland.     Invent  some- 


118  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

thing  imperative  ;  rent  that  cottage  at  Santa 
Cruz  or  sell  it ;  cut  off  her  supports,  leave  her 
no  '  stand-by  '  but  Mr.  Nevin.  She  is  peculiarly 
desolate  ;  this  ought  to  make  her  thank  her 
stars  that  she  has  found  such  a  protector  as  my 
brother." 

"My  sister  will  no  doubt  do  as  I  bid  her," 
said  Bond,  laying  down  his  pen.  "  But  it  seems 
a  little  strange  to  me  that  you  should  be  so 
desperately  anxious  to  get  my  ward  for  your 
brother.  Grand  people  like  you  might  have  a 
choice  of  heiresses,  I  should  think." 

"  Heiresses  fenced  round  with  bristling 
hedges  of  relatives,  well  up  as  Joseph  Bulfinch 
in  the  private  history  of  every  man  in  society, 
and  cousms  anxious  to  keep  the  money  in 
the  famil.y.  Do  not  waste  my  time  and  your 
own  in  idle  conjecture.  Will  you  follow  my 
suggestion,  or  shall  we  break  off  negotiations 
and  send  your  ward  back  to  the  wilds 
from  which  you  dragged  her,  poor  child  !  for 
your  own  ends  ?  " 

''I  don't  pretend  to  be  an  angel  no  more 
than  Mr.  Nevin  does,  but  I  thought,  and  I  still 
think,  I  was  doing  the  best  I  could  for  Miss 
Ashland  by  pushing  her  marriage.  I'm  of  your 
opinion,  that  this  shilly-shallying  ought  to  be 
put  a  stop  to ;  but  you  are  as  quick  as  a  flash  of 
lightning  and  down  on  a  man  before  he  knows 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  119 

where  he  is.  1  think  j'ouv  idea  is  very  good, 
ver}^  good,  and  you'll  see  I'll  not  be  long-  in  act- 
ing on  it.  I'll  get  Mrs.  Williams  off  to  Puget 
Sound  and  give  her  permanent  employment 
among  tJie  clams.  But  I  hope  when  the  knot 
is  tied  hard  and  fast  Mr.  Nevin  will  not  object 
to  a  little  annuity  in  consideration  of  the  help 
she  is  giving  him." 

''She  is  helping  you,  too,  Mr.  Bond,"  said 
Mrs.  Craven,  shrewdly,  "  and  I  hope  you  will 
not  prove  ungrateful."  She  rose  as  she  spoke. 
"  We  understand  each  other,  then,"  she  con- 
tinued. "  Our  interests  are  alike.  I  suppose  I 
may  depend  on  you  ?  " 

"I'll  be  as  true  as  the  needle  to  the  pole," 
cried  Bond,  enthusiastically. 

Mrs.  Craven  laughed  as,  with  a  slight  nod  of 
her  head,  she  left  the  room. 

"Well,  I've  seen  a  few  clippers  in  my  life, 
but  she  '  takes  the  cake,'  as  they  say  ;  regular 
fire  and  tow  !  There's  something  more  than  her 
anxiety  about  her  brother  under  it  all.  As  to 
m^'-  sister,  she  dare  not  refuse  me  anything. 
I  must  send  her  to  Clallam  or  some  other  hole 
in  the  Northwest." 

Meanwhile,  Mrs.  Craven  drove  off  down  State 
Street,  and  her  carriage  was  obliged  to  stop 
near  "  Serjel  Coopers,"  on  account  of  a  block. 
As  she  looked  listlessly  at  the  passers-by  she 


120  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

suddenly  rccog-nized  Harold  Nealo,  coming-  from 
the  "  L  "  road.  She  waved  her  hand  and  caught 
his  eye.  He  came  readily  enough,  and  the  next 
instant  she  was  exclaiming,  with  smiling  lips  : 
"Back  again  in  Chicago,  Mr.  Neale  !  What 
on  earth  has  brought  you  here  ?  " 


CHAPTER  VHI. 

"My  mother  is  considerably  better  and  out 
of  danger,  and  I  have  some  important  busi- 
ness to  attend  to  here,"  replied  Harold,  shaking 
her  hand. 

"  Shall  you  be  long  in  Chicago  ?  "  she  asked. 

''  Only  a  day  or  two.'* 

"  We  are,  unfortunately,  going  out  to  dinner 
to-day,  but  can  you  look  in  and  have  a  cup  of 
tea  a  little  before  four  ?  " 

^'Certainly,  I  shall  be  most  happy,"  returned 
Harold,  his  eyes  lighting  up  with  ]oy. 

''Do  not  be  late."  She  kissed  her  hand  to 
him  as  she  stepped  back  and  signed  to  the 
driver  that  he  might  go  on. 

"He  is  not  handsome,"  thought  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven, "but  how  much  better  looking  than  most 
handsome  men.     Oh,  no  one  ever  loved  me  as 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  121 

Harold  did.  and  I  treated  him  abominably.  I 
think  he  likes  me  a  little  still." 

Then  the  horrible  suspicion  flashed  across  her 
brain :  Could  the  light  that  came  to  his  eyes 
have  been  evoked  by  the  prospect  of  meeting- 
Alice  Ashland  ?  No,  impossible  !  Mrs.  Wain- 
wright  was  dreaming ;  yet  "  He  shall  not  see 
her"  was  her  fixed  determination,  as  she 
alighted  within  a  short  distance  of  her  own 
door  and  dismissed  the  conveyance. 

"Has  Mr.  Nevin  been  here  this  morning?" 
asked  Mrs.  Craven,  as  she  entered  the  house. 

''No,  ma'am,"  said  the  butler. 

"  Then  send  to  the  Auditorium  and  say  I 
want  to  speak  to  him  at  once ;  if  Mr.  Nevin  is 
not  there,  let  him  be  found." 

"Very  well,  ma'am." 

Mrs.  Craven  went  to  her  room. 

At  lunch  Major  Craven,  who  had  also  re- 
turned from  the  East,  joined  his  wife  and  Miss 
Ashland. 

"  I  have  written  to  Mrs.  Williams  and  Mr. 
Watts,"  said  Alice,  "telling  them  that  the  stu- 
dio would  be  closed  next  week,  and  that  you 
cannot  staj^  in  Chicago  much  longer,  therefore 
I  had  better  return  home." 

"  Well,  dear,  I  wish  you  had  spoken  to  me 
before  you  wrote.  I  shall  not  leave  Chicago 
before  the  end  of  next  month,  and  though  I 


122  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

cannot  exactly  fix  mj^  plans,  there  is  time 
enough;  you  need  not  be  in  such  a  hurry  to 
run  away  from  us." 

"  No,  let  us  all  go  back  to  my  place  on  the 
Hudson  together.  You  don't  want  to  go  to 
Newport  this  year,  Mary  ?  "  said  Major  Craven. 

"I  shall  not  commit  myself,"  she  returned, 
laughing..-  Nevin  preserved  an  expressive  si- 
lence, his  eyes  fixed  on  his  plate. 

*'I  do  not  wish  to  go,  indeed  I  do  not," 
said  Alice,  earnestly.  "  You  are  all  so  good  to 
me,  but  I  fear  to  be  in  your  way,  and  I  do  not 
want  to  desert  my  own  home." 

''And  we  are,  of  course,  tired  of  so  tiresome 
and  naughty  a  little  girl,"  said  Mrs.  Craven, 
with  a  pleasant  smile.  "  However,  things  will 
arrange  themselves.  I  was  going  to  propose, 
as  it  is  such  a  fine  day,  to  drive  to  Lincoln  Park; 
unfortunately,  I  have  had  a  manifesto  from 
Mme.  Abbott,  who  is  coming  to  try  on  my 
fall  costumes  and  plan  an  evening  dress  or  two, 
and  if  I  lose  this  chance  I  may  not  catch  her 
again,  for  Abbott  is  a  personage,  I  assure 
you." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,"  cried  Alice,  impul- 
sively. 

"Never  mind.  Miss  Ashland  ;  I'm  a  capital 
whip,  and  will  drive  you  carefully.  What  do 
you  say  ?  "  said  Nevin. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  133 

''An  excellent  suggestion/'  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Craven.     "  Will  you  accept  it,  Alice  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  thank  you  very  much." 

"  Then  I  will  order  the  bug-g-y  to  come  round 
at  three,  and  you'll  have  a  nice  long-  afternoon. 
Ring  the  bell,  Wilfred." 

''Ha!  Nevin,  yon  haven't  served  your  ap- 
prenticeship to  drawing-room  life  for  noth- 
ing !  "  said  Major  Craven,  significantly. 

His  wife  looked  at  him  with  a  warning  frown. 

The  major  rose  soon  after  and  left  the  room, 
saying  he  was  going  to  the  Hawthorne  races. 

Mrs.  Craven  soon  followed  his  example  and 
Alice  went  to  get  herself  read}--. 

"  I  must  steer  with  caution,"  thought  Harold 
Neale,  as  he  rang  the  bell  at  the  Craven  resi- 
dence and  was  admitted  into  the  cool,  per- 
fumed hall. 

"This  way,  sir,"  said  the  butler,  ushering 
him  upstairs  to  a  small  room  where  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven sat  in  softened  light  amid  a  profusion  of 
delicious  flowers,  fresh  from  a  second  toilet. 

"  Bring  the  tea;  and,  Christina,  I  am  not  at 
home." 

The  girl  bowed  obedience  and  retired. 

"I'm  quite  glad  to  hear  all  about  your 
mother  and  dear  old  Peekskill,"  said  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven.    "  I  hope  your  mother  improves  ?  " 


124  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"Very  slowly.  Yet  she  does  improve.  I 
doubt,  however,  if  she  will  toe  able  to  stand  the 
winter,  though  we  have  the  most  sheltered  spot 
on  the  Hudson.  I  think  I  shall  take  her  to 
California." 

"  It  must  be  a  great  comfort  for  her  having 
you  at  home,"  returned  Mrs.  Craven,  and  she 
continued  to  speak  of  their  mutual  experiences 
in  the  past,  approaching  dexterously  the  scene 
of  their  stormj^  parting,  with  the  in  ten  fcion  both 
of  eliciting  some  expression  of  his  feelings  from 
Harold  and  of  giving  her  own  explanation  of 
the  fact  that  she  threw  him  over  for  a  wealth}^ 
suitor. 

But  her  skill  was  unavailing.  Harold's  eyes 
wandered  nervously  with  an  expectant  look  to 
the  door,  by  which  he  supposed  every  moment 
Alice  would  appear. 

''  Are  you  not  a  little  distrait,  Mr.  Neale  ?  " 
she  asked,  with  a  well-go t-up  air  of  playful- 
ness. "  Who  are  you  looking  for — Wilfred  or 
Miss  Ashland  ?" 

"  I  rather  expected  to  find  Miss  Ashland  with 
you,"  said  Harold,  with  such  unhesitating 
frankness  that  Mrs.  Craven  was  a  little  re- 
assured.    ''  Wilfred  is  not  in  Chicago,  I  heard." 

''Yes,  he  ivas  away,"  said  Mrs.  Craven, 
slowly,  for  she  was  making  up  her  mind  for 
a  big,  bold  lie.     "  But  he  came  back  about  a 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  126 

week  ag-o,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  be  glad  to 
hear  that  my  hopes  have  been  fulfilled.  Miss 
Ashland  and  Wilfred  are  engaged  ;  and  he  has 
driven  her  to  Lincoln  Park  to-da3^  I  ^i^  sure 
Wilfred  will  be  a  very  devoted  husband,  as  he 
ought  to  be,  for  she  sincerely  loves  him." 

Silence.  It  was  a  most  unexpected  blow,  and 
for  a  moment  Harold  was  stunned.  He  rallied 
himself  by  an  effort. 

''I  congratulate  you,"  he  said,  looking  down. 
"  I  hope  Nevin  will  do  her  justice.  Miss  Ash- 
land seems  to  me  something  of  a  home  bird." 

"  Like  other  women,  she  will  probably  be- 
come what  her  circumstances  make  her,"  said 
Mrs.  Craven,  shortly.  "  As  the  engagement 
is  only  just  made,  I  beg  you  will  not  speak  of 
it  at  present  to  any  one." 

*' Certainly'-  not,  if  you  desire  it." 

''I  am  going  back  to  the  Hudson,"  continued 
Mrs.  Craven,  wishing  to  avoid  the  subject,  ''  to 
refresh  mj^self  with  a  glimpse  of  the  dear  old 
Catskills." 

''Indeed!  It  is  long  since  you  were  there. 
New  York  has  claimed  j^ou  since  your  mar- 
riage." 

"  Yes ;  but  I  long  to  see  the  old  spot.  Shall 
you  be  at  home  in  October  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  so." 

*'  Then  you  must  be  my  guide,  philosopher  and 


126  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

friend  in  the  scenes  of  my  youth,"  said  Mrs. 
Craven,  stealing  a  watchful  glance  at  his  som- 
ber countenance. 

"I  am,  of  course,  at  j^our  service." 

''If  you  are  disengaged  to-morrow,"  said 
Mrs.  Craven,  as  he  rose  to  go,  "  come  to  din- 
ner and  meet  the  affianced  ones."  She  told 
herself  :  ''  He  will  not  come." 

''  If  I  settle  my  business  to-morrow  morning 
I  am  bound  to  catch  the  night  mail  home," 
said  Harold.  ''Should  I  not  see  3'ou  before  I 
go,  pray  congratulate  Wilfred  for  me  at  the 
right  moment.     Good-by." 

"  He  came  here  to  seek  her.  Wainwright  is 
right,  for  once.  How  gallantly  he  took  it. 
How  his  eyes  sought  that  door.  Oh,  how  dif- 
ferent he  is  from  the  willow-wands  of  men 
that  surround  me  ! "  So  soliloquized  Mrs. 
Craven  as  she  stood  looking  after  Harold 
Neale  for  a  minute,  with  her  brows  knit  and  a 
look  of  victory  and  love  written  on  her  beauti- 
ful face.  Mrs.  Craven  was  not  surprised  to 
receive  a  line  from  Neale  :  "  He  found  it  neces- 
sary to  return  home  immediatel3\ " 

"  I  wonder  what  real  business  he  had  in  Chi- 
cago," she  thought.  "  At  anj'  rate,  he  is  safe 
out  of  the  way.  When  he  meets  Alice  again 
she  shall  be  Mrs.  Wilfred  Nevin." 

Another  week  had  nearly  passed  and  Alice 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  127 

had  had  no  answer  from  Mrs.  Williams.  Mr. 
Watts  had  paid  her  a  visit  and  stayed  to  lunch- 
eon, where  he  seemed  anything-  but  comfort- 
able. On  Friday  morning-,  however,  she  re- 
ceived two  terrible  letters.  One  from  Mr.  Bond, 
saying  that  he  and  Mr.  Watts  had  accepted  a 
very  g-ood  offer  for  the  Santa  Cruz  cottag-e  and 
let  it  on  lease. 

The  other  was  from  poor  Mrs.  Williams,  and 
was  an  incoherent  production  ;  something-  about 
a  broken  heart  at  having-  to  leave  Santa  Cruz 
and  her  dear  Alice,  praying-  God  to  bless  her 
and  restore  them  to  each  other. 

Besides  the  letter  a  scrap  of  paper  had  been 
thrust  into  the  envelope,  on  which  were  the 
words  :  '^  I  can't  help  myself,  dear;  I  can't,  in- 
deed. I'll  tell  you  all  yet ;  wait  a  bit,  and 
bum  this." 

Alice  read  both  letters  before  she  grasped 
the  situation.  Without  a  home,  a  tie,  a  claim 
on  any  one,  what  was  to  become  of  her  ? 
Where  was  she  to  turn  ? 

There  was  a  ting-e  of  mystery,  too,  in  this 
sudden  wrenching-  asunder  of  Mrs.  Williams 
and  herself  that  completed  her  distress. 

Bond  was  at  the  bottom  of  it.  She  had  an 
innate  distrust  of  Bond.  Mr.  Watts,  thoug-h  so 
much  nicer,  was  a  mere  puppet  in  his  hands. 

Alice  sat  down,  hoping  Mrs.  Craven  might 


128  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

come  in  before  going-  out,  as  she  often  did  in  the 
forenoon.  Once  more  she  read  Mr.  Bond's  let- 
ter,  thinking"  all  the  time  she  heard  his  thin, 
harsh  voice  uttering  the  smooth  sentences,  and 
almost  seeing  his  sycophantic  grin.  Her  pulse 
beat  quick  with  an  indignant  sense  of  helpless- 
ness. Why  did  they  tear  Mrs.  Williams  from 
her,  and  why,  oh  !  why  did  not  Mrs.  Craven 
come  ? 

As  she  thought,  the  handle  of  the  door 
turned.  At  the  sound  Alice  started  up  and 
went  forward  so  eagerly  that  she  nearly  rushed 
into  Nevin's  arms  as  he  came  in.  She  was  too 
full  of  her  troubles  to  be  in  any  way  confused. 

''  Oh,  where — where  is  Mrs.-  Craven  ?  "  she 
exclaimed,  with  a  genuine  ring  of  distress  in  her 
voice. 

''She  has  just  gone  out,"  he  returned,  look- 
ing earnestly  at  her. 

"  How  unfortunate  !  I  wanted  her  so  much," 
and  a  great  sob  rose  in  her  throat,  in  spite  of 
her  brave  effort  to  be  calm. 

''  What  has  happened  ?  "  asked  Nevin,  with 
grave  sympathy.     "  Can  I  be  of  any  use  ?  " 

Alice  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  of  doubt 
and  then  broke  out  :  "  No,  no  ;  no  one  can  be 
of  any  use  to  me  !  Mr.  Bond  can  do  what  he 
likes  ! " 

"  Old  rascal !    What  has  he  been  about  ?  " 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  139 

asked  Nevin,  with  an  accent  of  real  wrath  that 
fitted  Alice's  mood  exactly.  *' I  see,"  he  con- 
tinued, ''3'-ou  have  letters.  Are  they  the 
trouble  ?  Am  I  presuming  too  much  if  I  ask 
to  know  what  distresses  you  ?  M3''  sister  will 
not  return  for  an  hour  or  so.  It  might  be  a 
relief  to  tell  me,  even  me,'^  with  a  grave 
smile. 

"  I  should  be  very  glad,  as  you  are  so  good 
as  to  care.  Read  these  and  you  will  not  won- 
der at  my  feeling  desolate."  She  handed  him 
the  letters  and  threw  herself  on  the  lounge  with 
self-abandonment  very  new  to  her. 

Nevin  read  both  epistles  in  silence,  then  sat 
down  b}^  her  and  returned  them  to  her. 

"Very  hard  lines  for  you,"  he  said.  *'  But  I 
do  not  see  how  it  is  to  be  helped."  (Alice  had 
loyally  burned  poor  Mrs.  Williams's  private 
note.) 

'•'  Don't  you  see  it  takes  away  from  me  any 
shadow  of  home  ?  When  Mrs.  Craven  goes  I 
shall  be  quite — quite  alone  !  "  cried  Alice. 

''  And  Mary  has  so  many  engagements,"  said 
Nevin,  as  if  to  himself,  beginning  to  pace  to  and 
fro  with  a  troubled  air.  ''That  will  not  last 
long,  however.  You  can  make  a  home  where 
3^ou  choose." 

"I  am  afraid  I  cannot !  Where  can  I  go  ? 
To  some  strange  old  ladj^,  who  will  not  like 


130  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

rae  ?  For  I  do  not  get  on  with  people — I  am 
misunderstood,"  and  she  thoug-ht  of  Harold. 

"But  when  they  know  you  they  love  you  !  " 
cried  Nevin,  and  continued  his  walk  in  silence 
till  Alice  rose,  saying  : 

"Nothing  can  be  done  till  I  see  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven." 

"  Stay — stay  for  a  few  minutes,  Miss  Ash- 
land, I  have  a  solution  to  propose,"  said  Nevin, 
with  agitation.  "Pray  hear  it  patiently."  He 
had  thoroughly  dramatic  instincts  and  threw 
himself  into  his  part,  be  the  part  Avhat  it 
might. 

Alice  sat  down  again.  He  had  so  effectively 
played  the  calm  friend  that  Alice  hardly  antici- 
pated what  was  coming. 

"  I  ought  not,  perhaps,  to  revert  to  my  own 
wishes,"  he  went  on — "wishes  I  have  tried  to 
resign,  but  cannot.  Why,  Alice,  will  you  not 
accept  a  home  With  me?  No,  do  not  speak 
yet ;  hear  me  out."  He  sat  down  on  the  lounge 
beside  her.  "  I  can  see  plainly  enough  that  you 
have  no  love  for  me.  I  feel  too  much  for  you 
not  to  perceive  your  indifference.  But  as  a  friend 
my  society  gives  you  some  little  pleasure.  Do 
I  flatter  myself  too  much  ?  " 

"No,  indeed!"  cried  Alice,  eager  to  make 
some  amends  for  her  guilty  coldness ;  "  you 
are  always  nice  and  pleasant." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  131 

Nevin  smiled.  "  Then  do  you  think  it  impos- 
sible for  me  to  make  you  happy  ?  Dear  Alice 
(I  must  call  you  Alice),  you  are  so  deliciously 
pure  and  simple  you  don't  know  what  love  is. 
I  will  never  believe  you  cared  a  fig  for  any 
man."  Alice  winced.  "  Let  me  try  and  teach 
you  ;  I  know  your  heart,  your  mind ;  I  know 
the  sort  of  life  that  would  suit  yow ;  I  am  not 
a  bad  fellow.  I  am  a  poor  man,  I  cannot 
tempt  you  with  wealth,  but  we  shall  have 
enough  for  a  quiet  life.  If  you  accept  me  3^ou 
can  do  what  you  will,  independent  of  guardians 
or  any  other  nuisance  of  that  kind,  and  you 
will  make  one  man  very  happy." 

His  quiet  earnestness  touched  Alice.  JSTo  one 
else  had  ever  loved  her  except  poor  Mrs.  Will- 
iams, and  gratitude  alone  ought  to  make  her 
appreciate  a  ' '  f ree-v/ill "  offering  like  Nevin's 
love.  "Why  should  she  not  accept  him ;  why 
should  she  remain  friendless  any  longer  ? 

"  Will  you  at  least  consider  my  pro- 
posal? "  persisted  Nevin,  humbly,  after  a  long 
pause. 

''You  are  too  good  to  me,"  said  Alice, 
softly.  ''I  feel  ashamed  of  not — of  not  being 
in  love  with  yow.  I  am  greatly  surprised  that 
you  care  about  me  ;  I  hardly  deserve  it.  You 
could  not  like  to  have  a  wife  who  was  not  in 
love  with  you  ?  " 


132  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"  I  should  like  3'ou  to  be  ray  wife  on  any 
terms,"  eagerly. 

**  Afterward  you  might  be  very  sorry ;  I'm 
so  different  from — " 

''  That  is  your  greatest  charm,"  he  inter- 
rupted. "You  are  so  fresh,  so  unlike  the 
women  I  have  been  accustomed  to.  Listen  to 
me.  1  have  had  the  offer  of  an  employment  in 
British  Columbia.  If  you  will  accept  me  I  will 
give  it  up.  It  is  not  a  place  I  would  take  you 
to.  If  5^ou  refuse,  I  will  start  next  week  and 
never — I  swear  it — never  return.  My  future  is 
in  your  hands ;  do  with  it  what  you  will." 

Alice  was  greatly  shaken.  Firmly  believing 
all  he  said,  it  seemed  all  but  imperative  on  her 
to  accept  him.  Who  would  ever  care  so  much 
for  her  again  ?  and  she  said  tremulously  : 

"  If  indeed  you  think  me  so  necessary  to 
you,  if  you  are  satisfied  with  the  sort  of  feeling 
I  have  for  you,  I  think — I  think  I  would  try 
to  be  very  good  and  careful." 

"  If ! "  cried  Nevin,  interrupting  her  and 
catching  her  hand  in  both  his  own.  "I  make 
no  conditions.  I  only  ask  the  right  of  a  hus- 
band to  be  wath  you  always,  to  help  you,  to 
teach  you  to  love  me.  Do  you  know — can  you 
see  the  delight  even  this  faint  consent  gives 
me  ?     Make   it   more,   more   distinct ;  give   me 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  133 

your  promise  to  be  my  wife  as  soon  as  matters 
can  be  arranged." 

''Yes,"  said  Alice,  slowly,  almost  solemnly, 
"I  will,  and  I  shall  love  3^011  when  we  are  mar- 
ried, I  am  sure  I  shall."  She  spoke  calmly, 
without  any  of  the  blushing  hesitation  natural 
at  such  a  time. 

Nevin  wisely  took  his  tone  from  her. 

''  How  can  I  thank  jo\x  enough  ?  Even  for 
the  sake  of  this  delightful  moment,  I  would 
not  have  tried  to  win  your  consent  if  I  did  not 
believe  I  could  insure  your  happiness,  dearest." 

Alice  felt  pleased  at  his  earnestness  ;  but  she 
wanted  to  go  away,  to  think,  to  relieve  her 
lieart  by  a  good  cry. 

"Must  you  leave  me?  "said  Nevin,  as  she 
made  a  liiove  as  if  to  go ;  then  he  continued  : 
"But  I  must  remember  there  is  some  difference 
in  our  feelings.  I  shall  see  you  this  evening. 
Now  I  have  your  permission  to  go  and  speak  to 
old  Bond ;  he  is  sure  to  be  in  his  office  early 
and  late.     Good-by,  my  sweet." 

He  opened  the  door  and  left  her.  Then  he 
went  into  Mrs.  Craven's  sitting-room  again 
and  his  sister  immediately  followed. 

"Well,  Mary,"  he  cried,  triumphantly,  "I'm 
all  right  this  time.  She  is  fully  and  completely 
committed." 

"  I  am  glad  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Craven.     "  I 


134  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

did  not  think  you  would  strike  home  so  deci- 
sively at  the  first  blow.     I  am  g-lad  !  " 

"  She  is  a  nice  little  thing — really,  she  is  !  I 
was  quite  pleased  with  her.  But,  mind,  she  is 
not  one  bit  in  love  with  me — not  an  atom — and 
it's  reallj^  better.  I  hope  she  won't  g-row  too 
desperately  fond  by  and  by." 

"  Nonsense  !  Now,  the  sooner  we  make  it 
universally'  known  that  you  ai^e  engaged,  the 
better.  Let  us 'haste  to  the  wedding.'  Ah, 
Wilfred,  'all's  Avell  that  ends  well.'  I  must  go 
to  Alice  now.     Where  is  she  ?  " 

"In  her  room  weeping,  I  suppose.  She  ought 
to  have  stayed  and  let  me  kiss  awaj^  her  tears." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Mrs.  Craven  wrote  a  long  letter  to  Harold 
Neale,  apologizing  for  not  writing  since  he  had 
left  Chicago,  but  she  had  been  so  very  busy 
arranging  for  Wilfred's  wedding,  which  was  to 
take  place  on  the  23d  of  the  month,  for  her  own 
part  she  would  not  be  sorry  to  see  the  last  of 
the  "  billing' and  cooing  of  the  turtle-doves." 
Wilfred  talked  of  inviting  him  to  be  best  man ; 
and  immediately  it  was  over,  she  intended   to 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  135 

leave  Chicago  for  Peekskill,  and  hoped  to  have 
a  good  time  at  the  old  spot. 

Harold  Neale  read  this  epistle  over  a  second 
time.  The  perusal  justified  his  anticipations. 
The  letter  was  cunningly  contrived  to  stab 
him^,  and  accomplish  its  end  ;  but  he  did  not 
dream  it  was  designed.  Her  letter  seemed  to 
him  the  natural  sequence  of  her  announcement 
that  her  brother  and  Miss  Ashland  were  en- 
gaged. 

Meanwhile,  Mrs.  Craven  contrived  to  keep 
Alice  in  a  constant  whirl.  She  was  positively 
alarmed  at  the  amount  of  clothes  and  toilet 
accessories  which  her  energetic  friend  declared 
to  be  absolutely  necessary. 

Major  Craven  enforced  his  congratulations 
with  the  gift  of  a  handsome  bracelet,  and  made 
much  of  her  in  every  way. 

Nevin  was  constantly  with  her,  and,  for  the 
first  two  weeks,  most  judicious.  He  amused 
her  by  planning  routes,  describing  the  beauties 
and  wonders  he  was  to  show  her,  and  he  kept 
her  mind  full  of  himself  and  his  projects.  Har- 
old was  never  mentioned  ;  indeed,  Alice  thought 
she  had  forgotten  him.  The  guardians  were 
smiling  and  satisfied.  Mrs.  "Williams  wrote  in 
delight,  and  said  she  would  beg  her  brother  to 
let  her  attend  the  wedding. 

All  looked   fair   and   promising.     Alice  was 


130  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

almost  embarrassed  by  the  number  of  riiig-s 
and  lockets  and  little  costly  "  charms  "  to  hang 
to  her  watch-chain  with  which  Wilfred  loaded 
her. 

"  I  shall  never  be  able  to  wear  them  all. 
Pray  do  not  bring-  me  presents  every  day,"  she 
begged. 

"  Very  well.  To  hear  is  to  obey.  Only, 
whenever  I  see  anything  extra  pretty  I  am 
seized  with  an  irresistible  desire  to  buy  it  for 
5'^ou,"  urged  Nevin. 

And  now  the  last  week  of  Alice's  girlish  life 
had  begun ;  on  Wednesday  she  was  to  become 
Mrs.  Wilfred  Nevin,  and  at  the  thought  she 
felt  a  carious,  uneasy  creepiness. 

The  truth  was,  that  Nevin  had  begun  to  get 
a  little  tired  of  the  part  he  had  hitherto  played 
with  such  spirit  and  judgment. 

Alice  felt  rather  than  perceived  the  indefin- 
able change ;  she  told  herself  she  was  nervous, 
childish  and  unreasonable  ;  but  a  vague,  un- 
pleasant impression  would  grow  upon  her  that 
Wilfred  Nevin,  keen,  jesting,  brightly  hard,  was 
a  more  natural  man  than  the  quiet,  kindly 
Nevin,  who  seemed  to  understand  her  thoughts 
before  she  uttered  them. 

"  You  are  not  keeping  up  to  the  mark,  Wil- 
fred," said  his  sister  one  evening.  ''You  are 
allowing  the  old  original  Adam  to  peep  out." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  137 

"  You  ought  to  remember  what  a  desperate 
drill  I  have  gone  through.  Is  it  to  be  wondered 
at  that  I  break  out  at  last  ?  Never  mind,  I  am 
going  to  buy  her  the  ring  to-morrow,  and  I 
shall  be  as  courteous  as  a  young  knight  of  the 
troubadour  days." 

The  'Ho-morrow  "  broke  brightly  and  softly. 
Alice  had  lain  long  awake,  thinking  over  her 
quiet  past.  If  the  future  promised  more  color 
and  variety,  would  it  be  as  free  from  pain  ? 

But  the  self-commune  told  upon  her,  and 
when  Nevin  followed  her  to  the  drawing-room 
after  luncheon,  he  asked,  tenderly,  what  had 
disturbed  her,  as  she  looked  pale  and  sad.  Of 
course  she  assured  him  she  was  well  and  happy, 
and  they  talked  for  a  few  minutes  with  renewed 
confidence  on  Alice's  part. 

"  I  have  ventured  to  bring  you  yet  another 
ring,"  he  said,  at  length,  drawing  a  very  small 
parcel  from  his  pocket.  "  It  is  as  well  to  ascer- 
tain if  it  is  the  right  size,"  he  added,  producing 
a  plain  gold  ring,  and  was  in  the  act  of  trying 
it  on  her  finger  when  the  butler  entered,  and, 
addressing  Alice,  said  : 

"There's  a  gentleman.  Miss  Ashland,  says 
his  name  is  Ashland,  asking  to  see  you." 

''  Ashland  !  "  echoed  Alice,  amazed.  But 
she  had  scarcely  uttered  the  word  when  a  very 


13S  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

tall  man,  exceedingly  brown  and  sunburned, 
with  dark  hair  and  e^'-es,  appeared  behind  the 
startled  butler,  and,  pushing-  him  aside,  strode 
into  the  room,  stopping  short  in  the  middle. 

After  one  comprehensive  glance  around  the 
room  he  fixed  his  piercing  eyes  on  Alice,  and 
asked,  in  a  rough  voice  :  "  Are  you  my  cousin, 
Alice  Ashland  ?  "' 

'•'  I  am  Alice  Ashland,"  she  returned,  rising 
in  her  extreme  surprise,  "  but  I  do  not  think  I 
have  any  cousins." 

''No,  I  daresaj^  not,"  he  returned,  with  a 
laugh. 

"Pray,  who  are  you,  sir?"  asked  Nevin, 
haughtily,  advancing  between  Alice  and  the 
intruder. 

"I  am  Thomas  Ashland,  her  uncle  John's 
only  surviving  son,"  nodding  to  Alice.  ''But 
she  never  even  heard  of  me,  I  suppose.  Our 
fathers  parted  years  ago.  And  you  " — sharply 
— "  I  suppose  you  are  her  lover.  I'm  glad  to 
make  your  acquaintance.  Shake  !  Cousin  Al- 
ice, I'll  come  to  your  wedding  as  yonv  nearest 
of  kill,"  and  he  sat  down  unasked  in  one  of  the 
brocaded  velvet  chairs  that  stood  near  him. 

Nevin  looked  at  him,  a  smile  stealing  around 
his  mouth.  He  was  too  sure  of  his  own  posi- 
tion to  be  disturbed  by  the  intrusion  of  any 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  139 

eccentric  relative.  He  would  neither  be  uncivil 
nor  admit  his  claim. 

"Well,  my  good  sir,  you  cannot  expect  Miss 
Ashland  to  accept  you  as  a  relative  without 
something"  in  the  way  of  credentials.  Very 
possibly  what  you  say  is  correct,  but—" 

"Ah!  I  understand.  Well,  I  have  left  all 
my  papers — that  is,  the  attested  copies  (catch 
me  parting"  with  the  originals  ! )  with  that  old 
fellow  down  in  the  Masonic  Temple.  You  know 
him.  Your  guardian,  I  mean,"  to  Alice.  "I 
seemed  to  knock  him  off  his  perch.  He's  in  a 
great  stew.  He  told  me  3'ou  were  to  be  mar- 
ried Wednesday,  1  think,  so  I  made  tracks  as 
fast  as  I  could  to  have  a  look  at  my  little 
cousin,  and  let  her  know  I've  a  sense  of  justice, 
and,  though  I'll  have  my  rights,  I'm  not  going 
to  be  hard  on  a  young  lady,  and  a  pretty  one 
into  the  bargain." 

An  awful  fear  shot  through  Nevin's  soul. 
Was  this  a  claimant  for  Alice's  inheritance  ? 

"  If  you  are  a  cousin,"  she  exclaimed,  "  I 
shall  be  ver}^  glad,  for  I  don't  seem  to  have 
any  one  belonging  to  me,  and  j^ou  are  a  little 
like  a  picture  of  my  father's  brother  John  that 
hangs  in  the  parlor  at  home." 

"  Good  !  shake  on  it.  You  look  like  an  hon- 
est girl.  I  suspect  you're  in  luck,"  turning  to 
Nevin,  after  shaking  Alice's  hand  vigorously. 


140  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

^'Ma^-^  I  ask  to  what  rig-hts  j'ou  allude?" 
asked  the  former,  with  cold  gravity. 

"  Great  Scott !  The  right  to  all  ray  father's 
property  and  cash  of  course,"  returned  the 
stranger,  pronaptly.  I  intend,  in  justice  to  vay- 
self,  to  prove  who  I  am  and  to  what  I  am  en- 
titled ;  but  I  won't  be'g-reedy  if  you  are  friendly. 
Now,  as  I  feel  strange,  not  to  say  lost,  in  this 
big  city,  and  you  seem  to  have  a  roomy  house, 
I  suppose  I  may  as  well  take  up  my  quarters 
with  you." 

Alice  looked  white  and  frightened.  Nevin 
was  too  confused  to  reply,  so  his  young  fiancee 
explained  : 

"  This  is  not  my  house  or  Mr.  Nevin's.  His 
sister,  Mrs.  Craven,  rents  it,  but  I  believe  the 
lease  expires  in  a  few  days." 

"  Ha  !  that  alters  the  case.  Well,  a  man  on 
the  cars  from  'Frisco  told  me  to  put  up  at  the 
Sherman.  I  only  arrived  late  last  night,  so  I'll 
just  stay  on  there.  You  see,  I  have  been  away 
in  New  Zealand  digging  for  gold,  kauri  gum 
and  everj^thing  else.  I  thought  I  would  take  a 
trip  this  year  to  see  the  great  World's  Fair 
and  the  old  man,  who  had  not  seen  me  for  over 
twenty-five  j^ears.  When  I  arrived  in  'Frisco 
I  tumbled  across  an  old  friend  of  my  father's, 
who  told  me  of  his  death  and  the  property  he 
had  left  and  how  it  had  all  been  seized  by  my 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  141 

cousin— naturally  enough.  I  got  some  lawyers 
to  hunt  things  up,  found  you  were  in  Chicago, 
and  here  I  am.  I  don't  think  you  are  too  glad 
to  see  me." 

"  You  must  admit  your  appearance  on  the 
scene  is  a  little  startling,"  said  ISTevin.  ''Have 
you  seen  Mr.  Bond,  the  more  active  of  the  two 
guardians  ?  " 

''  Not  yet.  The  other  old  boy  talked  of  him 
and  seemed  too  frightened  to  say  yes  or  no 
without  him." 

"  Suppose  we  go  and  call  on  Bond  together," 
said  Nevin,  pleasantly.  "  I  don't  want  to  make 
mj'^self  ridiculous  by  over-suspicion,  but  I  am 
sure  you  are  too  much  a  man  of  the  world  to 
expect  that  I  should  take  you  simply  on  your 
own  word." 

''  Right  you  are,"  cried  the  stranger,  start- 
ing up.  "Come  along,  then;  I'll  see  you 
again,  my  pale  little  cousin."  Another  strong 
grasp  of  the  hand  and  he  strode  out  of  the 
room  as  abruptly  as  he  had  come  in. 

Nevin  paused  a  moment  to  say :  '*  This 
threatens  to  be  a  serious  affair,  Alice.  You 
had  better  keep  out  of  that  Kanaka's  wa}'.  I'll 
tell  Jeams  to  send  Mary  to  you  as  soon  as  she 
comes  in  ;  let  her  know  everything,"  and  he 
went  hurriedly  out  of  the  room. 


142  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

Alice  had  a  very  vague  idea  of  what  it  all 
meant. 

If  this  strang-er  was  really  a  cousin  she  would 
be  g-lad.  His  face  was  kindl}^  in  spite  of  his 
fierce  eyes,  and  he  might  be  a  friend.  Her 
clearest  impreSsion  was  that  Mr.  Nevin  was 
very  gravely  and  certainly  not  pleasurably 
affected  by  his  sudden  appearance.  Why 
should  he  be  ?  What  were  the  rights  he 
talked  about,  and  what  had  she  to  do  with 
them  ?  Until  Mrs.  Craven  came  in  it  was  use- 
less to  conjecture. 

So  Alice  turned  to  leave  the  room  and  calm 
herself  in  her  own.  As  she  did  so  her  eyes  fell 
on  the  wedding-ring  which  Nevin  had  been  in 
the  act  of  trying  on  when  her  self-called  cousin 
broke  in  upon  them. 

It  had  been  thrown  aside,  paper  and  all,  on 
a  small  tea-table,  utterlj'-  forgotten  by  the 
donor.  Alice  took  it  up  with  a  sort  of  pro- 
phetic doubt.  ''How  will  the  coming  of  this 
strange  man  affect  our  life?"  She  only 
thought  that  if  this  Ashland,  as  he  called  him- 
self, proved  really  to  be  a  rela.tive,  it  might 
worry  Nevin  to  associate  with  him. 

At  last,  reaching  the  shelter  of  her  own 
room,  she  took  refuge  from  her  confused 
thoughts  in  a  book  Harold  Neale  had  once 
recommended.     She  was  interrupted  after  more 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  143 

than  an  hour  had  elapsed  by  a  tap  at  her  door, 
hnmediately  followed  by  the  entrance  of  Mrs. 
Craven  in  her  outdoor  dress. 

"  They  say  you  want  to  speak  to  me,  Alice." 

"Yes;  I  want  to  speak  to  you  very  much," 
and  she  drew  forward  an  easy-chair.  *'  I — we 
rather,  Mr.  Nevin  and  myself — had  a  visit  from 
a  wild-looking-  man  who  says  he  is  my  cousin," 
and  she  described  the  interview  very  accurately. 

As  Mrs.  Craven  listened  she  grew  graver  and 
graver,  her  mouth  closing  tightly.  When  Alice 
ceased  to  speak  she  said,  almost  in  Nevin's 
words : 

*'  This  is  very  serious.  If  this  man  turns  out 
to  be  what  he  represents  himself,  it  will  change 
your  fortunes  considerably." 

"Why  will  it  change  my  fortunes?"  asked 
Alice. 

"Tell  me,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  not  heeding 
her,  "  did  you  ever  hear  of  your  uncle  having  a 
son  ?  " 

"  I  never  did." 

"  You  see,  if  this  man  is  your  cousin  and  the 
son  of  your  father's  brother,  he  is  entitled  to 
all  his  father's  property.  But  it  is  most  likely 
a  bold  attempt  to  extort  money.  He  will  prob- 
ably offer  to  compromise  matters,  but  we  will 
look  narrowly  into  his  pretensions.  So  do  not 
worry  yourself,  dear,  until  you  know  more." 


144  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"  No,  1  shall  not.  I  ahvays  had  enough,  you. 
know,  and  there's  the  house  at  Santa  Cruz.  I- 
suppose  he  cannot  take  that — it  was  my  fa- 
ther's." 

Mrs.  Craven  looked  at  her  with  an  expression 
half  wondering-,  half  contemptuous. 

"  You  are  rig"ht  not  to  meet  trouble  half-way. 
I  can  on\y  hope  this  man  will  prove  an  im- 
postor. If  not — "  She  stopped  abruptly.  ''It 
won't  do  to  think  about  it.  Wilfred  has  g-one 
with  him  to  Mr.  Bond's,  has  he  ?  I  shall  not 
g-o  out  till  he  returns.     What  shall  you  do  ?  " 

"  I  will  stay  with  you  ;  I  have  no  objection 
to  meet  people,"  said  Alice.  "  Why  are  you 
so  frig-htened  about  me  ?  Surely  you  disturb 
3'^ourself  too  much." 

'•'  Perhaps  so.  Well,  chang-e  your  dress  and 
join  me  in  the  drawiiig'-room." 

Mrs.  Craven  left  her  abruptly,  thinking-  as 
she  went  :  "  Dress,  indeed  !  If  this  cannibal 
proves  his  stor^^,  who  is  to  pay  for  the  lovelj' 
trousseau  I  have  chosen  ?  It  will  half  ruin  poor 
Alice.  What  an  idiot  she  is  !  Yet  I  rather 
like  her.  How  awkward  it  will  be  for  Wilfred 
if  he  is  oblig-ed  to  break  with  her  !  No  doubt 
I'll  have  to  attend  to  that.  Men  alwaj'^s  ex- 
pect their  sisters,  their  mothers  or  their  wives 
to  do  their  dirty  work." 

Mrs.  Craven  was  not  less  amiable  to  her  vis- 


ALICE   ASHLAND,  145 

itors  that  afternoon  for  the  unpleasant  antici- 
pations weighing  on  her  mind. 

Ahce,  who  since  her  engagement  was  an- 
nounced had  grown  more  assured  and  self- 
possessed,  feeling  she  had  a  certain  right  to  her 
position  in  the  household,  talked  a  little  and 
listened  a*  good  deal  to  two  Michigan  Avenue 
dames,  who  pronounced  her  a  nice,  sensible 
girl. 

Mrs.  Craven  observed  her  with  surprise  and 
some  compassion.  How  little  she  realized  the 
rocks  ahead  !  Her  eyes  often  sought  the  clock. 
When  would  these  tiresome  people  go  ?  when 
would  Wilfred  return  ? 

That  gentleman,  meanwhile,  lost  no  time  in 
getting  to  the  city  with  the  strange  claimant. 
They  scarcely  spoke,  though  Ashland  occasion- 
all}'  exclaimed  at  the  crowd,  the  magnificent 
buildings,  the  crowds  of  people  waiting  to  cross 
here  and  there. 

Arrived  at  the  Masonic  Temj  e,  they  found 
Bond  closeted  with  Mr.  Wacts,  and  we^-e 
obliged  to  wait  a  few  minutes  in  the  outer 
oflace.  When  they  were  shown  into  Mr.  Bond's 
room  they  found  that  worthy  in  an  evident 
state  of  perturbation  ;  he  was  examining  some 
papers  Avhich  lay  on  the  table. 

Bond  jumped  up  and  seized  Nevin's  hand,  ex- 
claiming : 


146  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"A  most  extraordinary  event,  a  most  un- 
fortunate business  !  A — this — a— is  the  gentle- 
man in  question,  I  presume?  "  turning  his  eyes 
with  an  expression  of  dishke  and  dread  at  the 
tall,  audacious-looking  stranger  who  towered 
above  him. 

"  Yes,"  said  Nevin  ;  "  I  thought  it  as  well  to 
come  on  here  at  once,  and  get  to  the  bottom  of 
the  affair." 

"  And  I  think  it  as  well  to  give  you  this  ad- 
dress," said  Ashland,  taking  a  piece  of  paper 
from  his  pocket.  "  '  Mr.  S.  Lloyd,  Agent, 
Bank  of  New  Zealand,  Montgomery  Street, 
San  Francisco,  Cal.'  There  you  are.  And 
you  may  as  well  take  my  lawyer's  card,"  and 
he  handed  them  another  :  ''^ '  C.  E.  Webb,  At- 
torney-at-law,  Kearny  Street,  San  Francisco, 
Cal.'  You'll  find  you  can't  dispute  my  iden- 
tity. Webb  knew  my  father  and  myself  be- 
fore I  went  on  the  Jeremiah  Thompson  to 
New  Zealand ;  so  make  haste  and  get  through 
all  the  necessar^^  formalities,"  and  turning  to 
Nevin  :  ''If  you  show  me  a  proper  spirit,  you 
and  my  cousin  will  find  I  am  no  niggard. 
There  ai>5^  my  papers ;  you  just  look  them 
through,  and  you'll  see  they  are  all  right. "  And 
with  this  last  remark  he  turned  and  left  the  room. 

''Do  you  believe  this  fellow's  story?"  asked 
Nevin,  throwing  himself  into  a  chair. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  147 

''I'm  sure  I  do  not  know  what  to  think," 
said  Mr.  Watts,  dejectedly. 

"And  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  what  to  do," 
cried  Bond,  nibbling-  the  top  of  his  pen  with  a 
look  of  vicious  irritation.  "  I  knew  John  Ash- 
land had  a  son,  but  he  concluded  he  was  dead 
and  gone  years  and  years  ago  ;  in  fact,  I  be- 
lieve he  heard  so,  and  that's  why  he  left  no 
will  and  Alice  succeeded  to  the  property  as 
next  of  kin." 

''And  what  do  these  papers  show?"  asked 
Nevin. 

"These  are  the  duly  attested  capies  of  his 
father's  marriage  certificate,  the  reg-ister  of  his 
own  birth,  the  discharge  from  the  ship  Jere- 
miah Thompson  and  a  letter  from  a  New 
Zealand^  banker  stating  that  he  knew  the 
bearer,  Thomas  Ashland,  since  his  arrival  in 
New  Zealand.  Yes,  jqb,  it's  all  right  as  he 
says,  and  here  he  is — an  ugly  customer,  I  can 
tell  you,  especiall}^  if  the  man  he  mentioned, 
Webb,  knows  him  ;  Webb  is  O.  K." 

"  We  must  look  well  to  the  authenticity  of 
these  certificates.  What  do  j^ou  i.itend  to  do  ?  " 
asked  Nevin. 

"  Send  out  an  agent  to  New  Zealand,"  began 
Mr.  Watts. 

"  Ay  !  and  who  is  to  pay  for  it  ?  "  interrupted 
Bond,  with  a  sneer.     "If  this  man  proves  his 


148  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

claim  Alice  Ashland  has  only  her  father's 
pittance,"' 

"  It  looks  bad  for  my  poor  little  ward/'  said 
Mr.  Watts,  with  much  feeling-.  "  I  think  yon 
had  better  submit  the  case  for  counsel's  opin- 
ion." 

"There's  nothing  to  give  an  opinion  about," 
cried  Bond,  with  a  vicious  snap.  "  If  this  Ash- 
land's story  is  true,  why,  he  takes  everything-." 

"  Well,  I  shall  write  to  San  Francisco  imme- 
diately," said  Mr.  Watts.  "  For  the  present  I 
will  bid  you  good-day.  I  am  a  good  deal  upset 
— a — I  sha^l  see  you  early  to-morrow." 

Nevitt  stood  up  while  he  left  the  room,  and 
then  drawing  his  seat  close  to  Bond's  desk, 
looked  full  at  the  latter,  saying,  in  a  low  tone  : 

''  Our  bargain  is  at  an  end,  I  suspect.  I  am 
in  a  devil  of  a  fix." 

''  I  daresay  you  are ;  but  what's  your  case  to 
mine  ?  My  hard  earnings,  the  little  profits  I 
counted  on,  torn  out  of  my  grasp,  and  Webb, 
and  this — this  unscrupulous  Maori,  or  whatever 
they  call  them,  routing  out  all  the  accounts  I 
have  kept  so — so  carefully,  picking  holes  with 
what  I  did  for  the  best  and  misinterpreting  my 
honest  intentions." 

''Yes,  I  suspect  he'll  skin  you,"  said  Nevin, 
cruelly.  "  Look  here,  do  you  think  we  shall  be 
obliged  to  admit  his  claim  ?  " 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  149 

''Looks  like  it." 

''  And  my  wedding  is  fixed  for  the  day  after 
to-morrow.  Shade  of  Caesar !  I  am  at  my 
wits'  end.  If  I  break  with  Alice  and  this  man 
turns  out  an  impostor,  I  shall  be  sold,  indeed. 
If  I  marrj^  her  and  he  succeeds,  I  shall  be  ruined 
and  undone.  Come  what  jnsiy,  the  wedding 
must  be  put  off." 

''  I  don't  care  a  fig  what  you  do,"  cried  Bond, 
with  a  ghastly  grin.  "  Your  elegant  sister 
may  help  the  lame  dog  over  the  ditch.  I  have 
enough  to  do  with  my  own  affairs.  It  was  an 
evil  hour  for  me  when  I  first  saw  you." 

''I  wish  you  good-day,  Mr.  Bond,"  cried 
Nevin,  in  a  fury,  and,  seizing  his  hat,  he  ab- 
ruptly left  the  room. 


CHAPTER    X. 

Nevin  and  his  sister  held  high  counsel  that 
night  when  they  were  alone. 

"You  must  hold  on,  Wilfred,  for  a  little 
while.  Suppose  this  Ashland,  as  he  calls  him- 
self, turns  out  to  be  an  impostor,  how  furious 
you  would  be  with  your  own  cowardice." 

''But  what  is  to  be  done  ?  I  am  on  the  brink 
of  a  precipice." 


150  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

**What  a  stlipid  man  3'ou  are,  Wilfred  !  You 
must  put  oflF  the  marriage." 

"  What  possible  excuse  can  I  urg-e  ?  " 

'•^  There  is  one  before  your  eyes.  The  settle- 
ments just  readj--  for  signature  are  nullified,  or 
would  be  if  this  man's  claims  hold  good.  Of 
course,  if  we  were  certain  her  claim  to  the  prop- 
erty could  not  be  shaken,  it  would  be  a  good 
opportunit}^  of  doing  the  passionate  and  dis- 
pensing with  settlements  altogether,"  she 
laughed.  ^^As  it  is,  you  must  allow  yourself 
to  be  persuaded  bj^  me,  for  Alice's  sake,  to  give 
up  the  immediate  ceremony.  She  will  never 
suspect  anj^thing.  Then,  if  hers  is  the  losing 
side,  3^ou  can  back  out.  I  am  quite  soyyj  for 
Alice — she  will  be  adrift  again." 

'^  She  will  not  break  her  heart,  that  yQ\x  may 
rely  on.  Personallj^,  I  shall  not  be  sorr}^  to  be 
clear  of  the  whole  affair.  I  am  bored  to  death. 
I  wish  you  or  the  major  would  give  me  a  thou- 
sand dollars." 

"  I  think  I  will  broach  the  subject  to  her  to- 
night," said  Mrs.  Craven,  who  had  not  listened 
to  him.  ''  I  have  already  stopped  all  prepara- 
tions for  the  wedding.  What  do  jom  say,  Wil- 
fred—shall I  speak  to  Alice  to-night  ?  " 

''Yes,  \>j  all  means.  In  fact,  I  am  dying  for 
sleep,  and  will  go  and  forget  m^^  troubles  for  a 
few  hours.    I  leave  m3^self  in  your  hands,  Mary. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  151 

I'm  afraid  the  game's  plaj-ed  out.  Be  sure  you 
see  the  major's  lawyers  in  the  morning-." 

Alice  had  onlj^  felt  vaguely  disturbed .  She 
saw  that  Nevin  was  greatly  preoccupied.  It 
was  a  little  remarkable  that  he  made  no  at- 
tempt to  speak  with  her  alone,  no  effort  to  im- 
part his  uneasiness  or  to  ascertain  if  she,  too, 
were  depressed. 

It  was  rather  a  relief  to  Alice  when  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven sent  for  her  next  morning  and  opened  the 
subject  of  the  wedding. 

''Poor  Wilfred  is  half  crazy,  dear,"  she 
said,  as  she  drew  Alice  to  sit  beside  her  on 
a  sofa  in' her  dressing-room.  "1  begged  him 
to  let  me  tell  you  I  have  insisted  on  your  mar- 
riage being  postponed  for  two  or  three  weeks, 
as  much  on  3^ our  account  as  anything  else. 
You  see,  if  this  dreadful  New  Zealander  turns 
out  to  be  really  your  cousin,  the  deed  of  settle- 
ment which  was  prepared  would  be  useless,  and 
your  interests  must  be  cared  for." 

'■Thank  you,"  said  Alice,  "but  I  do  not  un- 
derstand having  2^,ny  interest  separate  from — 
from  Mr.  Kevin's." 

"  Very  nice  and  sweet  of  you  to  say  so,  but 
sentiment  is  quite  out  of  place  in  matters  of 
business.  Another  thing,  dear — if  it  turns  out 
that  this  cousin  of  j'ours  can  rob  you  of  your 
fortune,  poor  Wilfred  must  get  some  appoint- 


152  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

ment  before  he  can  have  a  home  to  offer 
you." 

Mrs.  Craven  watched  lier  iiarrowl}'^  as  she 
spoke. 

'*  Why  not  ?  "  asked  Alice,  quietl3^  "  I  am 
very  young*  and  ignorant.  I  should,  perhaps, 
make  a  better  wife  later  on." 

"  She  is  utterly  indifferent  to  him,"  thought 
Mrs.  Craven,  "  and  it  will  be  harder  to  en- 
lig-hten  indifference  than  love."  But  she  said 
aloud  :  ''  It  is  a  comfort  to  speak  to  so  sensible 
a  g'irl.  Now  there  is  no  use  being  miserable. 
Put  on  your  cream  surah  and  lace  dress  and 
Major  Craven  shall  drive  you  over  to  the  Fair 
g-rounds.  You  are  quite  a  favorite  with  him 
and  he  hasn't  a  thing-  to  do,  while  I  have  no 
end  of  bothers ;  really,  I  don't  know  wh3'^  I 
trouble  so  much  about  other  people, "  concluded 
Mrs.  Craven,  with  the  air  of  a  martyr  and  a 
sigh  of  relief  at  the  prospect  of  being*  from 
Alice's  presence  for  a  whole  day. 

A  very  unpleasant  interval  succeeded  this 
sudden  reversal  of  all  their  plans. 

Nevin  absented  himself  a  g-ood  deal,  and  when 
he  joined  his  sister  and  Alice,  was  so  moody 
and  preoccupied  that  the  latter  was  half  fright- 
ened at  the  complete  change  in  her  hitherto 
observant  and  debonair  lover. 

During  this  period  Ashland  called  more  than 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  153 

once,  but  was  refused  admittance  ;  the  bland 
butler  reported  to  Mrs.  Craven  that  "  he 
threatened  to  lift  me  out  of  the  road  next 
time  if  I  didn't  let  him  in."  In  the  butler's 
opinion  the  g-entleman  was  a  dangerous  lunatic. 

Finally,  Messrs.  Bland  &  Twist,  the  learned 
and  respectable  lawyers  of  Major  Craven,  ad- 
vised their  client  and  his  brother-in-law  that 
Mr.  Thomas  Ashland's  claim  was  not  to  be  dis- 
puted, and  that  the  sooner  matters  were  set- 
tled m  a  friendly  spirit  the  better  for  Miss 
Ashland's  interests. 

"  I'll  g-o  to  her  directly  she  comes  in  and  just 
tell  her  our  engagement  must  be  at  an  end," 
said  Nevin,  on  receipt  of  this  intelligence.  "  It's 
all  a  mockery  hanging  on  in  this  way.  Where 
is  Alice  gone  ?  "  he  concluded. 

'•  To  meet  her  cousin  at  Mr.  Watts's  rooms, 
and  have  everything  explained  to  her.  I  won- 
der how  much  she  will  understand  of  it  ?  " 

''More  than  3"ou  think.  I  fancy  she  will  be 
as  sharp  as  any  of  you  when  she  is  four-and- 
twentj'.  All  she  wants  is  cultivation.  She  will 
always  have  the  advantage  of  a  slow  circula- 
tion." 

''  Why,  Wilfred,  you  really  seem  to  dislike 
the  poor  child  !  " 

"No;  but  I  resent  the  loss  of  time  and  the 
immense  amount  of  trouble  she  has  cost  me." 


154  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

**I  am  sure  you7'  time  is  not  of  much  value." 

"  I  wish  3'ou'cl  lend  me  a  hundred  dollars. 
I'm  sure  Galindo  will  Avin  at  Hawthorne  track 
to-day." 

"  Wilfred,  you  are  an  idiot !  " 

Mrs.  Craven  went  on  with  her  writing,  while 
her  brother  talked  at  intervals  without  receiv- 
ing- much  attention. 

Seeing  this,  Nevin  seized  a  book  and  settled 
himself  in  an  easy-chair.  He  had  not  read 
long  when  he  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance 
of  Alice,  followed,  to  his  surprise,  b}^  Ashland, 
who  was  got  up  quite  picturesquely. 

Alice  looked  very  grave,  but  in  no  way  dis- 
turbed. "Well,  ^ear,  I  hope  you  have  got 
through  this  unpleasant  business  satisfac- 
torily," said  Mrs.  Craven,  determined  to  make 
things  as  pleasant  as  she  could.  ''  Mr.  Ash- 
land, I  presume?" 

"  Yes,  I'm  Tom  Ashland,  and  as  I  said  be- 
fore, now  that  I  have  my  rights  I'll  show  you 
I  am  a  corker;  I'll  be  a  real  kinsman  to  my 
cousin,  though  I  have  robbed  her  of  the  inherit- 
ance 5'^ou  thought  she  had." 

"  The  robbing  has  been  on  my  side,  I  am 
afraid,"  said  Alice.  ''Mr.  Bond  has  been  ex- 
plaining to  me  that  the  money  I  have  been 
spending  so  freely  of  late  is  really  my  cousin's 
and  ought  to  be  refunded." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  155 

"I  don't  want  it,"  said  Ashland,  abruptly 
and  firmly;  ''if  I  did,  that  snuffy  old  liar 
ought  to  pay  me  out  of  the  savings  of  your 
long  minority.  I  haven't  done  with  him  yet. 
My  lawyer,  Webb,  has  had  an  interview  with 
his  sister  and  got  at  more  than  her  precious 
brother  thinks.  You  and  she  never  spent 
more  than  eight  hundred  or  nine  hundred  dol- 
lars a  year,  you  couldn't  from  what  she  told 
Webb.  Now,  what  has  Bond  done  with  the 
difference  ?  I'm  sure  he'd  take  a  penny  from 
a  blind  man's  hat." 

''Your  cousin  is  quite  graphic,"  said  Mrs. 
Craven  to  Alice,  with  a  pleasant  laugh. 

"  Bond  is  an  unprincipled  old  scoundrel !  " 
cried  Nevin,  heartily. 

' '  Yes,  my  cousin  Alice  has  been  robbed  right 
and  left.  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  her  safe  under 
the  protection  of  a  good  honest  fellow,"  and 
he  nodded  to  Nevin.  "Now,  I'll  tell  you  what 
it  is.  Come  to  the  Sherman  to-morrow  between 
ten  and  twelve,  Mr.  Nevin ;  we'll  talk  over  the 
new  marriage  settlements,  and  j'-ou'U  see  I  am 
prepared  to  do  the  thing  handsomely." 

He  smiled  a  patronizing  but  good-natured 
smile.  Then,  drawing  himself  to  his  full 
height,  he  added:  "I've  led  a  queer  life — a 
life  that  would  make  you  open  your  eyes  "  (to 
Nevin),   "much  as  you  know;    but -it  hasn't 


156  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

made  a  heartless  blackguard  of  me.  Now  I'll 
g-o  ;  I  don't  want  to  trouble  you  with  more  of 
my  companj'^  than  is  needful.  I  am  not  your 
sort,"  turning  to  Mrs.  Craven,  ''nor  you  mine. 
Once  my  cousin  is  out  of  yoiw  house,  I'll  never 
enter  it  again.  But  I  have  a  right  to  look  after 
her,  and  Fll  do  it;  so  good-morning."  He 
shook  hands  with  Alice  ;  then,  grasping  Nevin's 
with  startling  energy,  ''  To-morrow  before 
eleven,  then,"  he  said;  ''we'll  soon  put  things 
straight,"  and  he  stalked  out  of  the  room. 

Mrs.  Craven  rang  the  bell,  exclaimmg : 
"Quite  an  effective  exit,  I  declare;"  then 
catching  an  expressive  glance  from  her  brother, 
she  continued  :  "  Now  I  shall  leave  you  ;  I  dare- 
say you  have  plent}^  to  talk  about." 

"  Plentj^  to  talk  about !  "  repeated  Nevin,  as 
soon  as  the  door  closed  upon  her.  "  No,  rather 
one  painful  topic  that  I  dread  and  evade."  He 
spoke  gravely,  yet  with  a  certain  coldness  in 
his  tone,  and  paused. 

"  Do  not  fear  to  speak  to  me  on  any  topic," 
returned  Alice,  looking  kindly  and  candidly  at 
him. 

"Mine  is  an  ungracious  task,"  resumed 
Nevin,  beginning  again  to  pace  the  room ; 
"but  I  must  not  shrink  from  it,  I  feel  it  only 
Just  toward  you  to  set  you  free  from  any  en- 
gagement to  myself.     I  will  not  drag  you  down 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  157 

to  poverty  for  my  own  selfish  g-ratification. 
No,  Alice,  I  release  you,  and  trust  you  will 
have  a  fairer  lot  than  to  share  the  banishment 
that  must  be  my  destiny." 

Alice  was  greatly  amazed,  and  even  affected, 
She  was  so  profoundly  convinced  of  his  deep  and 
warm  attachment  to  herself  that  she  never 
hesitated  to  offer  with  simple  kindness  to 
share  his  destiny,  however  dark  or  repul- 
sive. 

"  I  am  not  easily  frightened,"  she  said,  with 
a  sweet  smile  and  downcast  e3^es  that  might 
well  have  charmed  a  true  lover.  ''  I  should  not 
be  worthy  to  be  your  wdfe  if  I  shrank  from 
sharing  the  rough  as  well  as  the  smooth  places 
in  your  road.  I  have  not  been  accustomed  to 
luxury  or  finery,  and  I  may  yet  be  as  really 
necessary  as  you  used  to  say  I  was." 

"Jupiter!"  thought  Nevin  to  himself,  ''she 
is  not  going  to  let  me  off.  I  was  right ;  she  is 
sharper  than  Mary  imagined. — My  dear  girl," 
he  said  aloud,  in  a  more  natural  manner,  "  you 
really  don't  know  what  you  are  talking  about. 
Life  is  very  costly,  even  to  a  miserable  bachelor; 
but  when  it  comes  to  married  life,  it  is  a  crime 
to  marry  with  insufficient  means.  So  long  as 
there  was  enough,  I  was  far  too  much  in  love 
to  care  on  which  side  the  money  was.  Now  all 
is  changed.     No,  dear  Alice,  marriage  is  out  of 


158  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

the  question.     Let  us  conquer  all  selfish  weak- 
ness and  part." 

His  voice,  even  more  than  his  words,  enlight- 
ened Alice.  A  sudden  consciousness  that  he 
wanted  to  get  rid  of  the  engagement  dawned 
upon  her  with  vivid,  mortifjang  clearness. 

"Very  well,"  she  said,  in  a  low  tone,  raising 
her  eyes  steadily  to  his,  '"  if  I  am  not  necessary 
to  your  happiness  the  engagement  had  much 
better  come  to  an  end.  But  wlij'-  did  you  tell 
me  what  was  not  true  ?  Can  a  fortnight  have 
destroj^ed  what  j'-ou  told  me  was  so  deeply 
rooted  in  your  heart  ?  " 

"My  dear  Alice,"  cried  Nevin,  blithely, 
"  you  should  make  allowance  for  my  feeling 
that  I  was  by  no  means  essential  to  you.  Come 
now,  be  candid  and  let  us  part  friends.  You 
are  not  the  least  in  love  with  me  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know  much  about  love,  Mr.  Nevin; 
but  when  j'^ou  assured  me  that  you  loved  me 
and  could  not  face  your  life  without  me  I  was 
greatly  surprised,  but  I  believed  you.  I  was 
very  grateful.  Now  it  is  very  unpleasant,  but 
we  can  part  without  much  suffering.  So  good- 
hy.  I  will  send  you  all  your  many  presents 
through  Mrs.  Craven.  The  last,"  with  slight 
emphasis,  "  is,  I  believe,  in  the  silver  casket  in 
the  drawing-room." 


ALICE   ASHI^AND.  159 

Her  simplicity  and  composure  had  a  curious 
effect  on  Nevin.  He  felt  as  he  could  fancy  a 
man  might  do  after  being-  kicked — cowed  and 
degraded. 

"  Believe  me,  I  shall  ever  retain  the  warmest 
regard,  the  highest  esteem,"  began  Nevin, 
holding  out  his  hand. 

Alice  looked  at  him  with  a  smile,  a  quiet 
smile,  gave  him  her  hand  for  a  moment  and 
left  him. 

''That  is  well  ended,"  he  said  to  himself, 
"  but  she  knows  how  to  strike  home.  I  must 
get  hold  of  Mary." 

Alice'  reached  her  room  with  her  cheeks 
flushed  and  her  hands  trembling.  It  is  true 
she  was  not  in  love  with  Nevin,  but  the  notion 
of  a  settled  home  soothed  and  satisfied  her. 
Now  everything  was  wrenched  aw^ay  ;  she  was 
despised,  rejected,  friendless.  Gradually,  how- 
ever, her  quiet  good  sense  came  to  her  aid  y 
she  had  really  done  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of. 
Was  she  to  blush  because,  being  herself  true, 
she  believed  Nevin  to  be  the  same  ?  No,  she 
would  not  allow  Jierself  to  be  overwhelmed. 
Her  first  effort  must  be  to  escape  from  Mrs. 
Craven's  ;  so  she  sat  quietly  down  and  wrote  to 
Mr.  Watts  and  Mr.  Bond,  telling  them  that 
the  marriage  was  broken  off,  and  th?it  she 
would  like  to  leave  for  California  immediately. 


160  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

and  implored  Mr.  Bond  to  let  his  sister  join  her 
there. 

Then  she  felt  calm  and  equal  to  meeting'  Mrs. 
Craven. 

These  were  dreadful  days  of  trial  to  Mr. 
Watts.  He  never  knew  when  he  was  safe  from 
the  incursions  of  the  reckless  New  Zealander, 
no  longer  able  to  pass  on  all  his  responsibilities 
to  his  colleague,  Mr.  Bond,  nor  to  escape  th& 
searching  queries  of  the  new  heir,  who  fulmi- 
nated the  most  tremendous  accusations  against 
the  acting  guardian  and  almost  called  him  ras- 
cal to  his  face. 

The  day  after  Nevin  had  succeeded  in  shak- 
ing off  the  shackles  of  his  engagement  Tom 
Ashland  descended  on  the  victimized  Mr.  Watts, 
before  he  had  quite  swallowed  his  breakfast. 

"  This  is  a  pretty  how-do-you-do,"  he  ejacu- 
lated, throwing  a  letter  on  the  table  and  draw- 
ing a  chair  violently  opposite  to  Mr.  Watts. 
"  That  hound  Nevin  has  broken  with  Miss  Ash- 
land. There,  read  that !  I  appointed  him  to 
be  with  me  this  morning  to  talk  over  a  new 
settlement  and  intended  to  make  a  handsome 
addition  to  my  cousin's  little  fortune.  I  un- 
derstood he  agreed  to  come,  and  instead  I  get 
this  precious  document." 

Mr.  Watts,  with  an  air  of  resignation,  took 
it  up  and  read   the    contents.       It  stated  in 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  161 

cold,  clear  terms  that  Miss  Ashland  and  him- 
self had  agreed  to  break  off  the  engagement 
and  consequently  there  could  be  no  use  in  Nevin 
keeping  the  appointment  with  him. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

"  Ahem  !  I  am  not  much  surprised  on  the 
whole/'  said  Mr.  Watts,  slowly.  ''You  see, 
it  was  entirely  a  marriage  of  convenience  on 
his  part." 

"Then  why  did  you  consent  to  it?"  asked 
Ashland,  angrily. 

"  Well,  you  see,  it  was  hard  to  know  what 
to  do  with  the  young  lady,  and  Mr.  Bond 
thought — " 

''Never  mind  what  he  thought!  He'd  sell 
her  to  the  blackest  imp  in  hell  for  a  dime.  I 
suspect,  for  all  he  is  such  a  fine  gentleman, 
Nevin  and  your  right-bower  understood  each 
other." 

"Not  that  I  know  of,  I  assure  you,  Mr.  Ash- 
land. He — "  But  Watts  was  not  destined  to 
finish  his  sentence.  Another  letter  was  laid 
before  him,  which  in  his  turn  he  handed  to 
Ashland.     It  was  Alice's  expressive  little  note. 

"Ha  !  it  is  a  regular  split,  then,"  cried  Ash- 
land.    "  I  suppose  nothing  is  to  be  done  ?  " 

"Well,  no  ;  a  breach  of  promise  of  marriage 
case  is  not  to  be  thought  of." 

"No — by  heavens!    no.      I   was   hesitating 


162  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

whether  I  should  hckthe  scoundrel  or  not.  I'd 
like  to  kick  him  from  Auckland  to  Timam.  Yes, 
we  must  get  her  out  of  that  house  at  once.  Just 
3'ou  step  down  to  that  sky-scraper  and  tell  old 
Bond  to  wire  his  sister  to  meet  Alice  and  me  in 
'Frisco.  We  can  stay  at  Monterey  until  those 
tenants  of  his  get  out  of  her  own  house.  I'll 
wire  Webb  to  secure  suitable  rooms  for  Alice, 
Mrs.  Williams  and  myself.  Shall  I  go  and  see 
Alice  ?  No,  I'd  better  not ;  I'd  spoil  that 
masher's  mug  if  I  saw  him.  Give  me  pen,  ink 
and  paper ;  I'll  drop  her  a  line  and  tell  her 
to  keep  her  heart  up,  and  another  to  Nevin, 
telling  him  he  is  a  good  riddance.  Where's 
your  blotter? 

''There,"  he  said,  as  he  finished  his  two 
short  notes  ;  ''  that  will  settle  Nevin,  and  I 
hope  vny  little  kinswoman  will  feel  she  is  not 
without  a  backer  when  she  reads  this.  Mind 
you  write,  too,  as  kind  as  you  can.  And  don't 
forget  to  tell  Bond,  if  he  doesnt't  let  his  sister 
join  Alice  I'll  put  him  in  Joliet.  In  whatever 
I  may  be  obliged  to  undertake  against  him 
I  can,  of  course,  count  on  your  help,  Mr. 
Watts,  otherwise  you  are  an  accomplice ;  and 
I  believe  3'ou  are  an  honest,  well-meaning  man. 
Good-b3^  to  you  !  "  He  clattered  away  noisily, 
leaving  Mr.  Watts  in  a  state  of  collapse. 

After  a  while  he  pulled  himself  together,  and 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  163 

went  away  in  much  agitation  to  see  Bond, 
whom  he  found  in  an  indescribable  condition 
of  rag-e,  despair  and  terror,  his  neclctie  twisted 
around  under  his  left  ear,  his  spectacles  pushed 
up  above  his  eyebrows. 

''Oh,  Mr.  Watts,  it's  you,  is  it?  I  little 
thought  3^ou'd  be  talked  over  by  that  madman 
to  turn  against  your  best  friend,  for  that  I  have 
been  to  you,  helping  you  every  way  I  could, 
even  to  my  own  loss  (there's  half  a  year's  in- 
terest due  on  the  little  loan  I  got  you  last  fall); 
and  what  right  has  he  got  to  come  here  worry- 
ing over  the  savings  of  his  cousin's  minority  ? 
He'll  turn  against  you  next.  His  friend, 
Mr.  Webb,  was  here  yesterday,  and  says  his 
mother  was  as  mad  as  a  hatter.  What  will 
he  be  after  next  ?  He  can't  even  leave  that 
stupid  creature  of  a  sister  of  mine  alone.  It's 
the  devil's  own  bad  luck  that  sent  him  here  to 
upset  everything.  Look  here,  now,  I'll  have 
nothing  more  to  say  to  youand  your  ward ;  and 
how  will  you  get  on  by  yourself,  I'd  like  to 
know  ?  " 

"You  have  been  of  very  great  service  to  me, 
I  acknowledge,  Mr.  Bond  ;  but  the  affairs  of 
the  minor  are  not  so  complicated  as  to  be  be- 
yond m}^  power  to — to  conduct.  I  must  say,  I 
think  you  made  a  great  mistake  when  you — " 

"  Lord,  what  a  weather-cock  you  are!"  in- 


164  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

terrupted  Uie  other,  with  a  contemptuous  toss 
of  his  chin.  ''  Was  it  my  fault  that  this  New 
Zealander  lias  turned  up  to  set  Lake  Michigan 
on  fire  ?  " 

After  much  recrimination  and  squabbling-  it 
was  agreed  on  between  the  spider  and  the  fly 
tliat  everj^thing  must  present  a  smooth  surface 
to  the  new  actor  who  had  appeared  so  inoppor- 
tunely to  interfere  with  Bond's  little  game,- 
even  if  it  cost  money  to  repair  a  few  of  the  well- 
meaning  mistakes  which  unavoidably  occurred 
from  overzeal  in  the  minor's  service. 

Thomas  Ashland's  energj'-  was  of  the  fever- 
ish order.  He  sent  his  laAvyer,  Webb,  via  the 
Union  Pacific  to  San  Francisco,  to  secure  rooms 
at  some  quiet  retreat  near  Monterey  or  Santa 
Cruz  for  himself,  Ahce  and  Mrs.  Williams, 
whom  Webb  was  to  call  on  en  route ;  then  he 
forced  Bond  to  telegraph  his  sister,  authoriz- 
ing her  to  meet  Mr.  and  Miss  Ashland  and  re- 
turn to  the  latter 's  employment. 

To  Alice  the  hours  which  intervened  between 
her  parting  with  Nevin  and  the  moment  of  her 
leaving  Mrs.  Craven's  were  painful  in  an  irrita- 
ing  sense.  The  consciousness  of  having  been 
so  completely  deceived  lowered  her  in  her  own 
estimation,  and  though  far  from  perceiving  how 
completely  Mrs.  Craven  had  been  her  brother's 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  165 

accomplice,  common  sense  suggested  that  she 
could  not  be  completely  innocent  of  his  schemes. 
Indeed,  this  interval  was  nearly  as  distressing 
and  irritating  to  Mrs.  Craven  as  to  her  guest. 
Even  Mrs.  Craven's  Avorld-hardened  self-pos- 
session was  ruffled  by  the  constant  presence^ 
of  the  guileless  young  creature  she  had  as- 
sisted to  Mind. 

The  only  allusion  Alice  made  to  the  sudden 
rupture  of  her  engagement  was  when  she  gave 
Mrs.  Craven  the  packet  containing  Nevin's  gifts, 
saying:  '' This  is -for  your  brother.  You  know 
what  it  is.  Do  not  let  us  say  anything 
more  about  him.  I  have  a  note  from  Mr. 
Watts ;  he  promises  to  take  me  away  to-mor- 
row, or  next  day  at  furthest,  so  I  need  hamper 
your  movements  no  longer.  You  have  been 
very,  very  good  to  me,  whether  you  reall}'^  like 
me  or  not,  and  I  am  heartily  grateful." 

"  My  dear,"  cried  Mrs.  Craven,  with  tears  in 
her  beautiful  eyes  (they  came  quite  readily 
whenever  she  wanted  them),  ''  no  words  can 
express  how  grieved  and  ashamed  I  feel.  It  is, 
all  too  painfully  fresh  to  talk  about  now.  Later 
I  hope  to  explain  away  some  of  the  blame 
which  naturally  seems  to  attach  to  me."  So 
saying,  she  kissed  her  brow,  patted  her  shoul- 
der and  hurried  away  to  give  orders  respecting 
the  packing  up. 


1G6  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

Thomas  Ashland  was  announced  the  next 
morning,  and  Alice  felt  like  a  prisoner  about 
to  be  released. 

*'Now,  are  you  ready  to  start?  We  must 
catch  the  one-o'clock  for  'Frisco.  I  suppose 
you  can  come  at  once  ?  " 

*' Yes,  I  can ;  but  I'm  ashamed  to  say  I  have 
too  much  bagg-ag-e  for  a  coupe." 

"  Well,  we'll  get  an  express,  then.  Now,  go 
get  on  your  things  and  say  good-bj^  if  it's  nec- 
essary. I  don't  want  to  see  Mrs.  Double-face 
again." 

''Mrs.  Craven  is  out.  I  hardly  like  to  leave 
without  seeing  her." 

''Nonsense  !  "  growled  Ashland,  in  his  hard- 
est tones.  "If  they  had  her  in  Timam  she'd 
be  picking  oakum.  I  shall  not  leave  you  in 
this  house  any  longer,  so  hurry  up." 

Alice  was  somewhat  afraid  of  Ashland — his 
height,  deep  voice  and  rugged  manners  made 
her  shrink  into  herself.  Moreover,  she  knew 
that  any  one  looking  at  the  bare  facts  of  the 
case  would  not  think  her  charming  hostess  de- 
serving of  much  consideration,  though  she  could 
not  help  liking  her.  She  compromised  matters, 
however,  by  writing  a  few  lines  of  farewell, 
which  she  left  in  the  hands  of  her  maid,  and 
hastily  donned  her  traveling  attire. 

As  soon  as  Alice  left  the  room  Ashland  ap- 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  167 

plied  himself  vigorously  to  the  bell,  which 
immediately  evoked  the  splendid  apparition  of 
the  butler. 

''I  say,  g-et  down  Miss  Ashland's  trunks,  and 
call  an  express ;  look  alive,  will  you,  and  there's 
for  your  trouble." 

The  tip  was  handsome  enough  to  make  him, 
in  Chicago  parlance,  ''get  a  move  on  himself," 
and  he  responded  with  a  gracious  "  Thank'ee 
sir,"  and  retired  to  execute  the  ''tipper's" 
commands. 

It  was  with  a  new  sense  of  safety  and  exhila- 
ration that  Alice  found  herself  being  whirled 
along  over  the  Union  Pacific  to  San  Francisco, 
where  she  and  her  cousin  arrived  safe  and  sound 
on  the  fourth  day,  to  find  her  old  companion, 
Mrs.  Williams,  awaiting  her  at  the  Lick  House. 
To  be  sitting  opposite  to  Mrs.  Williams  in  the 
old  familiar  fashion,  as  if  the  last  two  months 
had  been  an  unsubstantial  dream,  was  some- 
thing so  strange  and  delightful  that  she  could 
hardly  persuade  herself  that  her  ardent  desire 
was  really  fulfilled.  She  was  tempted  every 
now  and  then  to  catch  her  arm  or  seize  her 
hand,  to  assure  herself  it  was  really  her  old 
friend  in  the  flesh. 

By  degrees  she  mastered  her  excitement  and 
they  fell  into  their  old  confidential  tone.  Alice, 
before  she  slept  the  first  night  in  California, 


1G8  *        ALICE   ASHLAND. 

had  told  the  whole  stor^'  of  her  engagement 
and  its  mortifying  conclusion.  Over  this  re- 
cital she  shed  no  tears,  and  the  mental  exercise 
seemed  to  clear  her  own  impressions  and  reveal 
to  her  the  systematic  deception  practiced  on 
her  in  its  fullness.  The  strongest  feeling  left 
in  her  mind  was  a  conviction  that  there  was 
something  in  herself  not  lovable,  as  the  man 
she  liked  had  avoided  her  because  she  sho\ved 
her  liking,  and  the  man  who  seemed  to  like 
her  forsook  her  with  unflattering  readiness  di- 
rectly she  proved  deficient  in  those  solid  attrac- 
tions which  real  and  personal  estates  possess. 

''Ah,  dear  Williams,"  said  Alice,  at  the  end 
of  her  story,  ''if  you  had  not  deserted  me  I 
might  have  escaped  a  good  deal.  I  should  not 
have  made  so  great  a  fool  of  myself." 

"Ah,  dear,  but  I  couldn't  help  it,"  cried 
Mrs.  Williams,  eagerly.  "  I  won't  submit  to 
seem  a  cold-hearted,  selfish  creature.  I  did 
not  desert  you  of  my  own  free  will,  that  yoli 
may  be  sure.  I  never  said  a  word  against  my 
brother  before,  but  I  am  mad  at  him,  and  you 
are  wiser  and  older  and  won't  betray  me.  I 
have  had  to  obe}^  him.  He  has  been  hard  on 
me.  You  know^  I  am  a  widow,  with  one  boy, 
kind  and  gentle,  but  weak  and  easily  led,  and 
God  only  knows  what  I  went  through  to  give 
him  food  and  clothes  and  a  little  schooling.   At 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  169 

last  I  was  struck  down  with  illness,  and  then  I 
was  oblig-ed  to  beg-  my  brother  for  bread.  He 
wasn't  bad,  for  he  gave  me  a  trifle  and  sent  me 
to  look  after  you.  My  dear  child,  it  healed  mj' 
heart  to  have  j'^ou  to  love.  Well,  my  brother 
took  Johnny  into  his  oflBce  and  promised  to 
look  after  him,  but  he  was  just  an  unpaid 
errand-boy.  One  unlucky  day  my  poor  boy, 
who  had  fallen  in  with  bad  companions,  was 
tempted  to  try  his  luck  at  Garfield  Park  races, 
and  won  and  won,  and  then  lost  all.  Robert 
had,  for  a  wonder,  left  some  gold  and  notes  just 
inside  his  desk  and  my  misguided  boy  took  some 
of  it,  thinking  he  would  win  back  everything ; 
but  he  l9st.  Oh  !  it  was  an  awful  time.  Well, 
to  end  he  storj^,  Johnny  was  sent  away  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  learn  the  building  trade, 
and  when  Bob  wrote  for  me  to  leave  the  cot- 
tage at  Santa  Cruz  I  refused  ;  but  he  sent 
word  that  if  I  didn't  do  as  he  bade  me  he 
would  expose  Johnnj^  and  warn  his  employers 
that  he  was  a  thief.     What  was  I  to  do  ?  " 

Here  Mrs.  Williams  broke  down  and  sobbed 
loudl3^  Alice  kneeled  down  bj^  her  and  soothed 
her  with  tender  caresses,  exclaiming  with  in- 
dignant fervor  against  Bond's  unfeeling  harsh- 
ness. 

"  But  why  did  he  want  to  separate  us  ? " 
asked  Alice,  with  a  puzzled  look. 


170  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

''Your  cousin  swears  that  Bob  sold  you  to 
Mrs.  Craven  and  her  brother,  but  was  sold 
himself,  because  he,  Mr.  Ashland,  turned  up. 
He  is  a  kind,  g-enerous  man,  that  Mr.  Ash- 
land." 

"  Yes,  he  is ;  he  is  indeed  ;  but  I  am  afraid  of 
him.  I  don't  know  why,  but  I  am  certainly 
afraid  of  bim." 

"  Nonsense,  my  dear ;  lie  will  be  a  good,  kind 
friend,  and  he  will  not  stand  any  of  Bob's 
tricks." 

''  Well,  thank  Heaven,  we  are  together 
again,"  said  Alice.  "  I  want  no  more  finery, 
or  grand  people,  only  to  be  at  rest  and  safe." 
Then  the  tears  stole  from  under  her  downcast 
lids,  and  she  had  the  relief  that  a  copious 
though  quiet  flood  of  tears  affords. 

Thomas  Ashland  found  himself  pretty  busy 
in  San  Francisco,  and  Alice  was  rather  aston- 
ished at  his  many  absences  from  her.  One 
evening,  however,  about  a  week  after  their  ar- 
rival, he  dined  with  them  at  the  hotel,  and  pro- 
posed a  trip  to  the  Golden  Gate  Park.  "  It  is 
a  lovely  evening,"  said  Ashland,  "and  one  can 
hardly  breathe  here.  Get  your  hat  and  sketch- 
book and  we'll  drive  through  the  park  to  the 
Cliff  House.  There  will  be  some  air  to  be  had 
on  the  beach.     I'd  like  to  see  you  sketch  the 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  171 

'  seal-rocks  '  on  the  spot.  It  seems  a  wonder- 
ful thing-  to  be  able  to  do  it." 

''Very  well,"  said  Alice,  readily  enough. 
She  was  always  glad  to  shake  off  thought 
and  niemorj'  by  motion,  and  missed,  more  than 
she  would  like  to  say,  her  frequent  drives  with 
Mrs.  Craven. 

'•'  Ah  !  the  air  is  fresher  out  here,"  said  Ash- 
land, as  they  approached  the  cliff ;  "  it  may 
bring  some  color  to  your  cheeks.  I  don't  like 
to  see  you  so  white." 

''It's  my  nature,  Thomas." 

"When  we  get  to  Monterey  j^ou'll  be  all 
right.  I  fancj^  you'd  like  life  in  New  Zealand. 
Most  wonderful  country  on  earth."  And  he 
talked  on  not  ladly,  describing  his  adventures 
among  the  Maoris,  his  ascent  of  Mount  Cook, 
the  wonderful  Rotamahana  lakes,  the  marvel- 
ous pink  and  white   terraces  of  Tarewera,  etc. 

Alice  listened  with  interest  and  sjnnpathy, 
asking  a  leading  question  here  and  there,  and 
so,  in  good  humor  with  each  other,  they  reached 
a  spot,  on  the  beach  where  Alice  thoug-ht  she 
might  attempt  a  sketch  of  the  world -famed 
"seal-rocks."  Alice  was  not  easilj^  satisfied 
with  her  work  and  rubbed  out  a  good  deal.  At 
last  she  succeeded  in  making  a  \qyj  fair  sketch 
of  the  scene  before  her,  wiiich  elicited  strong- 
expressions  of   approbation  from   her  cousin. 


172  ALICE  ASHL-AND. 

She  began  slowly  to  close  and  strap  her  book 
and  pencil-case.  Ashland  rose,  stretched  him- 
self and  sat  down  ag-ain, 

"  I  say/'  he  exclaimed,  "  it  wasn't  very  nice 
for  that  old  Bond,  putting-  down  j'our  wedding 
clothes  in  his  bill  of  accounts," 

"He  did  not  mean  anything  unpleasant," 
returned  Alice,  coloring  faintly. 

''Perhaps  not.  But  I  say,  Alice,  if  you'd 
rather  not  have  them  wasted,  or  you'd  like 
just  to  stamp  out  all  memory  of  that  unlucky 
business,  I  am  quite  at  your  service.  Suppose 
you  marry  me?  Then,  you  know,  you'd  get 
the  proper t^j-  back  again." 

He  looked  at  her  earnestlj^  as  he  spoke,  but 
without  the  least  of  a  loverlike  expression, 

Alice  almost  dropped  her  book,  ''What  can 
have  put  such  an  idea  into  your  head  ?  "  she 
exclaimed,  in  profound  amazement. 

"  Well,  you  see,  it's  the  best  sort  of  way  to 
make  matters  comfortable  for  you  ;  so — " 

'''  You  are  kindly  disposed  to  sacrifice  your- 
self for  my  comfort.  Thank  you,  Thomas," 
and  she  laughed  merrily,  but  not  unkindly. 
"  Why,  you  don't  care  the  least  for  me." 

"  Yes,  I  do.  I  am  very  fond  of  you.  I  don't 
mean  to  say  I  am  in  love.  I  have  been  In  love 
two  or  three  times,  and  it  was  a  desperate  busi- 
ness.    You  really  might  do  worse ;  I'm  not  a 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  173 

bad-looking  fellow.  You  mig-ht  keep  me  in 
order ;  we  would  have  plenty  of  money  and 
grow  fond  of  each  other.  Now  just  think  it 
over.'' 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  said  Alice,  still  laugh- 
ing. ''  I  never  thought  any  one  would  be  so 
accommodating.  Seriously,  never  let  us  talk 
of  this  project  again.  I  am  sure  you  will  agree 
with  me,  when  you  reconsider  your  kind  wash 
to  prevent  my  trousseau  being  useless." 

"All  right,"  Ashland  exclaimed.  "I  sup- 
pose you  know  what  you  want ;  and  I  daresay 
you  are  a  great  deal  too  good  for  me,  so  we 
will  say  no  more  about  it.  I'll  be  your  friend, 
only  if  j^ou  change  your  mind  let  me  know." 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Alice,  smiling,  "  I  will  pro- 
pose for  you  in  due  form." 

Ashland  laughed.  "I'm  your  man,  if  you 
will,"  he  said.  ''I've  not  been  as  steady  as  I 
ought,  and  I've  a  notion  that  a  wife  and  a  home 
would  settle  me." 

No  more  was  said  on  the  subject.  Alice  was 
a  good  deal  startled  and  amazed,  but  Ashland 
seemed  to  forget  the  conversation  completely. 
He  was  very  irregular  in  his  waj's  ;  he  would 
call  every  now  and  then,  and  then  absent  him- 
self for  a  week.  When  he  reappeared  he  gen- 
erally^ looked  ill  and  haggard.  "  I'm  always 
bothered  with  headaches,"  he  said,  when  Alice 


174  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

asked  if  he  felt  unwell.  ''  I  have  had  one  or 
two  bad  bouts  lately,  and  as  I  am  not  fit  to  be 
spoken  to  1  keep  out  of  the  way  when  thej^ 
come  on.  I  would  take  you  to  Monterey  at 
once,  but  Webb  cannot  find  a  house  for  rent, 
and  I  hate  these  big-  hotels ;  I'm  not  used  to 
them." 

"  A  great  friend  of  mine,"  said  Mrs.  Will- 
iams, "  used  to  keep  a  very  superior  boarding- 
house  about  four  miles  out  of  Monterej^,  a  beau- 
tiful house  with  a  conservator5^  It's  years 
since  I  heard  of  her.  I'll  give  you  her  address, 
Mr.  Ashland  ;  you  might  inquire  about  her, 
and  if  she's  still  there,  I  know  that  you'd  en- 
jo3"  her  surroundings.  Her  terms  are  high,  but 
there's  every  comfort." 

"  Oh,  we  needn't  put  on  the  screw,"  said  Ash- 
land, who,  though  ready  to  exact  the  last  cent 
from  Bond,  was  lavish  in  providing  any  luxury'- 
or  amusement  for  the  kinswoman  he  had  taken 
under  his  somewhat  tyrannical  protection. 
''Will  you  get  me  a  glass  of  brown  pop,"  he 
continued,  ''and  write  the  address  for  me?  I 
shall  start  early  to-morrow.  We'll  leave  here 
this  week." 

"Well,    you    are    abstemious,"   cried    Mrs. 
Williams,  admiringly,  as  she  handed  him  the 
beverage.     "  Are  you  a  total  abstainer  ?  " 
"Not  quite,"  returned  Ashland:  "but  this 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  175 

is  better  than  old  rye.  Well,  I'll  report  to  you 
the  daj'  after  to-morrow ;  so  g-ood-nig-ht.  I 
will  be  off  early  in  the  morning-,  and  we  will 
make  all  arrangements  when  I  come  back." 

''How  very  kind  he  is  !  "  cried  Alice,  when 
he  had  left.     ''I  wish— " 

"  What,  m.y  dear — what  do  you  wish  ?  " 

''I  wish  I  were  not  so  afraid  of  him  some- 
times. When  he  walks  up  and  down  and 
seems  looking  at  something  far  away  that  dis- 
pleases him,  I  do  not  quite  like  to  be  in  the 
room  with  him." 

"  Ah  !  that's  only  when  his  poor  head  has 
been  bad.  I'm  sure  he  would  do  anything  on 
earth  for  you." 

Under  Thomas  Ashlaad's  energetic  g"uidance 
things  were  soon  in  train  for  Alice's  change  of 
abode.  He  had  succeeded  in  finding-  Mrs.  Will- 
iams's old  friend.  She  was  still  the  proud  pro- 
prietor of  a  very  successful  boarding-house, 
and  was  highly  pleased  at  the  idea  of  receiving 
Mrs.  Williams  and  her  charge.  The  liberal 
arrangements  of  Mr.  Ashland  met  her  entire 
approval,  and  a  few  days  later  Alice  and  her 
chaperon  settled  in  Mrs.  Jarrett's  comfortable 
mansion — Mission  House. 

The  hack  which  conve^-ed  them  to  the  South- 
ern Pacific  Depot  had  just  driven  away  when 
a  gentleman,  broad-shouldered  and  dark-eyed. 


1T6  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

stepped  into  the  Lick  House  and  inquired  of 
the  clerk  if  Miss  Ashland  was  there. 

"  ThQy  have  just  driven  to  the  Southern 
Pacific  Depot/'  said  the  clerk. 

"  Do  you  know  where  they  are  going-  ?  " 

"1  am  sure  I  do  not,  sir,  though  I  fancy  1 
heard  the  gentleman  mention  Montere.y." 

'*  The  gentleman  !     What  gentleman  ?  " 

"'  Mr.  Ashland,  sir." 

''Well,  I'll  leave  my  card,  at  any  rate;  they 
may  return  to  this  hotel." 

The  card  was  inscribed  ''Harold  Neale." 
Time  had  gone  heavily  with  him  since  his  last 
brief  visit  to  Chicago.  He  had  been  more 
severely  hit  than  he  at  first  thought,  and  the 
feeling  of  profound  compassion  for  Alice,  as  the 
victim  of  Nevin's  unprincipled  schemes,  helped 
to  keep  his  tenderness  for  her  constantly  alive. 

He  waited  and  waited  for  the  announcement 
of  the  wedding,  but  none  came.  He  did  not 
like  to  write  to  Mrs.  Craven  for  an  explanation. 
So 'he  waited  and  dreamed,  though  apparently 
occupied  with  the  work  of  harvesting  at  Peeks- 
kill. 

Early  in  August  Mrs.  Craven  came  to  illu- 
minate Peekskill  with  her  bright  presence.  On 
her  arrival  she  sent  a  message  to  Harold  and 
trusted  to  the  old  attraction  to  draw  him  to  her 
side. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  177 

Nor  was  she  mistaken.  The  day  but  one 
after  her  arrival  being-  Sunday,  Harold  went 
over  a  little  before  noon,  looking-,  Mrs.  Craven 
fancied,  darker  and  g-raver  than  ever. 

He  was  welcomed  with  quiet  warmth  per- 
ceptible to  himself  onl}-. 

After  a  pause  he  asked  : 

''  What  has  become  of  Nevin  ?  " 

"I do  not  exactly  know  at  this  moment," 
she  returned.  ''He  is  somewhere  in  Dakota,  I 
think.  But  I  have  a  good  deal  to  tell  j^ou 
by  and  b5^" 

The  weather  was  so  tempting  that  after  a 
little  lunch  Harold  asked  Mrs.  Craven  if  she 
felt  equal  to  a  walk  up  the  hills. 

Mrs.  Craven  was  delighted,  and  went  away 
for  her  hat  and  parasol. 

ISTeale  thought  he  had  seldom  seen  a  fairer 
woman  as  they  left  the  house  together.  Her 
dress  of  thin,  pale-brown  stuff,  with  red  sash 
and  ribbons,  her  wide-brimmed  straw  hat 
turned  up  on  one  side,  where  a  couple  of 
creamy  roses  lay  on  her  rich  hair,  the  softened, 
happy  expression  of  her  eyes,  made  up  a  lovely 
picture. 

"  I  suppose  you  are  dying  to  know  what  hap- 
pened to  break  off  Wilfred's  marriage?"  she 
said,  when  they  were  well  aAvay  from  the 
house. 


178  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

*'  I  might  survive  a  little  longer  without  the 
knowledge,  but  I  should  like  to  know." 

"  Hasn't  Wilfred  written  to  you  since — since 
the  bubble  burst  ?  " 

"  Not  a  line." 

''What  an  idle  fellow  he  is!  He  promised 
he  would  tell  you  ever^'^thing,  or  I  should  have 
done  so.  Well,  here  is  the  story,"  and  she  de- 
scribed the  sudden  appearance  of  Thomas  Ash- 
land, th6  irresistible  character  of  his  claim  and 
the  consequent  breaking  off  of  the  engagement 
with  Nevin. 

It  was  lightly  and  amusingl^^  told,  with  a 
tinge  of  rose-color  on  Nevin 's  share  in  the 
business. 

"  Really,"  exclaimed  Harold,  ''this  has  been 
a  trying  aflfair.  Nevin  has  gone  off  to  Dakota, 
3'^ou  saj^  ?  What  has  become  of  his  loving 
fiancee  ?  " 

"  I  believe  she  went  back  to  California  and 
Mrs.  Williams.  But  do  you  know,  I  don't 
think  she  cared  a  fig  for  Wilfred  ;  she  was 
rather  obtuse  in  some  directions." 

"  Then  she  must  have  imposed  on  you  very 
successful!}^,  for  in  the  last  letter  you  were  so 
good  as  to  send  me  you  spoke  of  the  extremely 
demonstrative  nature  of  her  affection.  In  short, 
it  bored  you." 

"Did  I?"  said  Mrs.  Craven.  "I  suppose 
something  suggested  the  idea  to  me  at  the 
time  ;  but  looks  do  not  prove  deep  affection." 

"  Certainly  not,"  returned  Harold,  carelessly. 
"  The  most  ardent  caresses  are  no  guarantee 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  179 

for  fidelity.  They  are,  no  doubt,  a  matter  of 
temperament." 

Mrs.  Craven  colored. 

"You  are  more  philosophic  than  you  were 
when  we  last  walked  here  tog-ether." 

*'l  should  think  so,"  said  Harold,  laug-hing. 
''  And,  if  your  ideas  are  not  greatly  chang-ed 
since  those  primitive  days,  I  must  have  bored 
you  infinitel3\" 

"Do  you  think  you  did  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven. 

"  I  dare  not  answer.  Do  you  think  j^ou  are 
able  to  climb  as  far  as  the  rock  ?  You  re- 
member it  ?  " 

"Remember  it  ?  Yes,"  she  replied,  in  a  tone 
that  said  much  more  than  the  words. 

Harold  struck  into  a  track  that  led  up  the 
side  of  the  hill,  and  conducted  her  to  their  old 
try  sting-place. 

Harold  talked  pleasantly  and  lightly  of  the 
past,  of  the  beautiful  scenerj^,  of  many  things, 
but  Mrs.  Craven  was  silent ;  she  had  intended 
that  Harold  should,  during  this  visit  of  hers  to 
the  old  scenes,  avow  the  bitter  agony  of  feeling 
that  she  was  lost  to  him.  Now  she  felt  in  some 
indescribable  way  that  the  mastery  of  the  situa- 
tion had  passed  out  of  her  hands. 

At  last  they  reached  the  well-known  spot. 
Mrs.  Craven  seated  herself  on  a  mossy  stone 
and  Neale  leaned  against  the  stem  of  a  tree. 
They  both  looked  out  over  the  fair  scene  before 
them  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  then  their  eyes 
met.  No  need  for  words  to  tell  what  the  other 
was  thinking  of,  p.nd  Mrs.  Craven  exclaimed, 


180  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

impulsively :  ''  Harold,  here,  where  we  last 
parted,  I  humbly  ask  your  forgiveness  for  my 
heartless,  cruel  conduct.  I  was  so  young-  and 
thoughtless.  I  was  scarce  responsible.  How 
often  since  have  I  longed  for  a  nature  stronger, 
truer  than  my  own  to  lean  on,  to — to  love  as  I 
knew  not  how  to  love  then.  I  am  more  lonely 
than  you  think,  dear  Harold.  Let  me  hear 
you  say  that  you  can  forgive  me,  and  restore 
me  to  something  like  the  position  I  once  held 
inj^our  esteem."  She  held  out  her  hand,  which 
he  took  and  held  for  a  moment,  her  beautiful 
lips  quivering,  her  soft  ejQS  suffused  with 
tears. 

''Ah,  Mary,"  returned  Harold,  touched  for 
a  moment,  "  a  man  might  well  forgive  you 
much."  Then,  in  his  usual  tone:  ''My  dear 
Mrs.  Craven,  I  by  no  means  deserve  so  am- 
ple an  amende.  Do  not  give  a  thought  to 
the  past  if  it  brings  you  pain.  I  am  glad  to  see 
you  surrounded  by  everything  that  can  make 
life  bright  and  pleasant." 

"Everything!"  echoed  Mrs.  Craven,  turn- 
ing her  eyes  full  on  his.  "  Yes,  heaps  of  toys, 
but  nothing  that  can  really  touch  the  heart. 
My  husband  cares  more  for  his  horse  than  for 
me.  I  may  do  what  I  like,  because  he  never 
needs  my  society.     He — 

"Come,  come!"  interrupted  Harold,  smil- 
ing. "No  man  ever  adored  a  wife  as  he  does. 
I  really  must  stand  up  for  the  major.  He  may 
not  be  a  hero  of  romance,  but  he  is  a  right 
good  fellow  and  quite  justifies  the  opinion  you 
must  have  formed  of  him  at  one  time." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  181 

'^  I  had  no  opinion  at  all/' she  murmured. 
*'I  married  him  because  I  was  told  to  marry." 
''We  none  of  us  realize  our  early  dreams," 
said  Harold.  "But  your,  lot  has  fallen  in 
pleasant  places  compared  to  the  majority. 
Look  at  your  quondam  protegee,  Miss  Ashland 
— a  mere  shuttlecock  between  her  guardian  and 
intended  husband,  whose  bowels  of  compassion 
are  mere  catg-ut.  She  is  bought  and  sold,  pet- 
ted, blinded,  flattered  till  the  supreme  moment 
when  she  is  found  wanting  in  her  chief  title  to 
regard  and  consideration,  and  then  she  is  at 
once  dropped,  disavowed,  sent  back  to  ob- 
scurity, from  which  she  was  dragged  to  suit 
the  schemes  of  those  who  wished  to  appropriate 
her  mone3\  What  would  you  think  and  feel 
had  you  been  subjected  to  such  treatment  ?  " 
"  My  dear  Mr.  Neale,  you  are  really  quite  ex- 

,  cited.  Of  course,  it  was  all  very  bad,  and  I  am 
ashamed  of  my  part  in  the  affair  ;  but  it  was  a 
great  chance  for  Wilfred.  I  hoped  all  would 
turn  out  well ;  but  as  it  didn't,  why,  you  could 
not  expect  Wilfred  to  marry  on  nothing.  It  was 
unpleasant  for  Alice.  I  cannot  imagine  being 
subjected  to  such  treatment  myself,  I  confess, ' ' 
looking  up  with  a  smile  intended  to  be  candid 
and  winning ;  but  Harold's  gravity  did  not 
relax. 

'"Yet  Miss  Ashland  is  a  delicate,  tender  wo- 
man like  yourself,  with  less  streng'th,  less  ex- 
perience— a  simple,  innocent  child,  the  soul  of 

.  truth  and  honor.     Why — " 

^      ''Why,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Craven,  surprised 

=^ at  his  tone,  "why,  Mr.  Neale,  you  seem  to  be 


183  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

absolutely  in  love  with  tha t  very  colorless,  g-ood 
little  girl." 

"I  am,"  he  returned,  meeting-  her  eyes  fully 
and  calml}'.  ''  I  was  interested  in  her  from  the 
first,  but  could  not  interfere  with  Wilfred,  who 
trusted  me  all  throug-h.  Now  I  reproach  my- 
self with  acting  a  cowardlj^  and  unmanly  part, 
Avhich,  if  I  can  repair,  I  will." 

"  Would  you  marrj'  her  ?  "  with  a  gasp. 

"  Yes,  if  I  am  so  fortunate  as  to  win  her, 
which  is  doubtful.  I  can  fancy  nothing  sweeter, 
nothing  to  be  more  ardentl}'  desired  than  to 
find  her  true  eyes,  her  gentle  face  by  the  fire- 
side to  welcome  one  back  after  the  troubles  of 
the  day.  She  is  the  very  embodiment  of 
home." 

''It  is  a  pretty  picture,"  said  Mrs.  Craven, 
coldly.  *'  But  I  am  feeling  a  slight  chill — shall 
we  return  ?  I.  see  you  think  I  have  deserted 
your  little  ideal.  It  would  be  awkward  and 
senseless  to  keep  up  with  her  under  the  circum- 
stances. Besides,  if  I  am  any  judge  of  indica- 
tions, I  suspect  she  will  find  a  potent  protector 
in  her  Maori  cousin," 

Mrs,  Craven  rose  decidedly,  and  though  Har- 
old was  most  careful  of  her  during  their  de- 
scent, the  walk  back  seemed  infinitely  longer, 
infinitely  more  fatiguing,  than  when  they  were 
outward  bound. 

Two  days  after  this  episode  a  telegram  from 
Major  Craven  obliged  his  wife  to  curtail  her 
visit  very  abruptly. 

As  soon  as  he  could  Neale  escorted  his  mother 
to  California  for  the  winter,  and,  having  Alice's 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  183 

address  from  Mr.  Bond,  called,  as  we  have  seen, 
fruitlessly  at  Miss  Ashland's  hotel. 

"^  If — if  onl3^  the  cousin  is  not  a  formidable 
rival !  I'd  like  to  see  him.  I'll  not  g-ive  up, 
though,"  he  muttered,  as  he  walked  slowly 
down  Montgomery  Street. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

It  was  dark  and  foggy  when  Mrs.  Williams 
and  Alice  arrived  at  Monterey ;  but  the  inde- 
scribable odor  of  the  soft  salt  sea  breeze  of 
that  beautiful  spot  was  very  delicious  to  the 
latter. 

She  felt  her  spirits  rise  on  leaving-  the  bus- 
tling- and  noisy  cities  far  behind  her,  as  if  a 
fresh  stream  of  ideas  had  been  set  in  motion  and 
the  weary  lang-uor  which  had  oppressed  her 
been  swept  away. 

Mrs.  Williams's  old  friend,  a  stout  matron 
with  rosy  cheeks,  a  widow's  cap  and  a  solid 
fi.g-ure,  professed  herself  overjoj^ed  to  meet 
Mrs.  Williams  again  and  declared  Alice  to  be 
a  sweet  young  lady,  etc.,  etc. 

Then  she  ushered  them  into  their  apart- 
ments. 

''And  Mr.  Ashland  was  most  particular,  I 
assure  you.  Nothing  but  the.  best  would  do  for 
him.  This  is  a  new  wing.  I  built  it  mj^self 
over  three  years  ago.  I  have  had  heaps  of 
trouble  since  last  I  saw  you,  Mrs.  Williams. 
But  though  I  have  got  on  Avonderful,  I  couldn't 
have  done  that  only  a  poor  old  gentleman,  who 


184  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

lived  four  or  five  years  with  us  and  gave  such 
a  lot  of  trouble  that  no  one  had  patience  with 
him  but  mj'self,  left  me  some  money  in  his 
will.  So  here  is  your  suite :  a  sitting--room — 
there,  you  can  see  the  bay  out  of  that  window, 
and  this  one  opens  into  the  conservatory,  and 
here  are  your  bedrooms  just  behind,  opening- 
into  each  other.  I  have  put  a  fire  in  Miss  Ash- 
land's room  ;  she  might  be  a  little  chilly  after 
the  drive  here  and  the  gentleman  told  me  she 
wasn't  too  strong.  And  now  you'll  have  time 
to  dress  for  dinner.  I  have  only  a  small  party 
now,  but  the^'-  are  quite  elegant  people." 

Having  rattled  off  this  long  address  with 
immense  volubility,  she  threw  open  the  bed- 
room door,  stirred  up  the  fire,  and  with  a  nod 
and  a  smile  bustled  away. 

''Well,  I  declare,  she  is  just  the  same  as 
ever  !  "  cried  Mrs.  Williams,  beginning  to  untie 
her  bonnet  strings, ''  as  busy  and  active,  only 
a  trifle  stouter." 

"It  is  quite  a  pretty  room,"  said  Alice,  look- 
ing around ;  "  and  how  much  better  furnished 
than  our  Chicago  lodgings  !  "  Her  residence 
witli  Mrs.  Craven  had  developed  a  taste  for 
beautiful  surroundings  which  had  been  rather 
a  source  of  suffering  latel3^ 

"  Oh,  I'm  sure  you'll  be  delighted  Avhen  you 
get  up  to-morrow,  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Williams. 
"  Now,  hadn't  yon  better  get  readj^  ?  " 

The  party  assembled  there  w^as  rather  small. 
Three  or  four  old  gentlemen,  accustomed  to  a 
yearly  trip  from  the  Golden  Gate  to  Monterey, 
a  childless   married    couple,    a   much-traveled 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  185 

spinster  with  strong  social  and  political  con. 
victions,  and  a  sweet-looking"  old  lady  with 
silvery  hair,  soft  dark  eyes  and  regular,  refined 
features.  She  was  dressed  in  black  silk  and 
black  lace,  and  had  an  air  of  distinction. 

Yet  there  was  something  timid  and  dependent 
about  her  that  touched  Alice,  who  sat  beside 
her  at  dinner  and  showed  her  sundry  little  at- 
tentions which  come  so  natural  to  the  young 
of  a  better  class. 

Mrs.  Williams  sat  opposite,  next  the  hostess, 
who  seemed  to  have  much  to  say,  for  Mrs. 
Williams  looked  deeply  interested  in  her  con- 
versation. Dinner  was  nearly  over  before 
Alice's  neighbor  addressed  her,  then  she  said  : 

"  You  have  only  just  arrived,  I  believe  ? " 

'"^  Scarcely  an  hour  ago." 

"  I  have  been  here  nearly  a  week,  and  find 
the  air  very  strengthening  and  delightful.  You 
will  find  the  outlook  from  this  house  very 
pretty." 

"I  long  for  daylight,"  returned  Alice,  "for 
it  seems  ages  since  I  went  to  Chicago.  I  feel 
quite  excited  at  the  thought  of  being  near  the 
sea  again." 

This  avowal  seemed  to  interest  the  old  lady, 
and  they  continued  to  talk  at  intervals  till 
dinner  was  over  and  the  ladies  left  the  room. 

Alice  paused  a  moment  till  Mrs.  Williams 
joined  her.  On  reaching  the  hall  they  found 
the  white-haired  lady  standing  at  the  foot  of 
the  stairs,  holding  one  corner  of  her  shawl 
against  her  mouth. 


186  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

*'I  am  afraid  there  is  a  draft  here/'  said 
Alice,  pausing-. 

"  There  is  a  little.  I  am  waiting-  for  Mrs. 
Jarrett,  who  is  so  g-ood  as  to  help  me  upstairs 
every  day." 

"She  has  been  called  away,  I  think,"  said" 
Alice,  and  then  added,  with  shy  politeness  : 
*•'  Our  room  is  opposite — will  you  sit  down  there 
till  Mrs.  Jarrett  comes  ?     Pray,  do." 

"You  are  very  g-ood — if  I  do  not  trouble 
you." 

"  There  is  a  nice  fire — do  come  in,"  urged 
Mrs.  Williams,  and  the  invitation  was  accepted. 

A  little  conversation,  not  too  fluent  or  ready, 
ensued,  and  thus  a  new  acquaintance  was 
formed  in  the  outset  of  this  fresh  page  in 
Alice's  life. 

"  Well,  Mrs.  Neale,  I  could  not  tell  what  had 
become  of  you,"  exclaimed  the  mistress  of  the 
house,  coming-  in  a  few  minutes  later.  "  It  is 
very  nice  for  you  to  be  comfortable  here.  I  do 
hope  j^ou'll  excuse  my  seeming-  neglect,  but 
I  was  called  away.  Will  you  come  into  the, 
drawing-room  to-night,  ladies  ?  " 

But  AKce  and  Mrs.  Williams  preferred  re- 
maining in  their  own  apartment,  and  spent  a 
cheerful  evening   arranging   their  belongings. 

The  next  morning  was  bright  and  beaming. 
Alice  was  up  early  and  called  Mrs.  Williams 
to  share  her  delight  at  the  view  from  the  win- 
dow of  their  sitting-room. 

"How  lovely  !  how  delightful  !  "  cried  Alice. 
"  Oh,  let  us  make  haste  and  get  out ;  1  long  to 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  187 

be  down  bj' the  sea;  you  will  come  with  me, 
will  you  not?" 

*'  To  be  sure  I  will ;  but  I  must  eat  my  break- 
fast first." 

"  Well,  do  not  be  long,  dear." 

The  complete  change — the  newest  of  every- 
thing— was  of  infinite  benefit  to  Alice.  Yet  the 
lesson  she  had  received  taught  her  the  deepest 
self-distrust.  She  shrank  from  making  any 
acquaintance,  and  was  quite  happy  with  her 
good  friend  Mrs.  Williams  and  Mrs.  Neale, 
between  whom  and  herself  a  degree  of  intimacy 
sprung  up. 

Mrs.  Neale  required  much  care — care  beyond 
what  her  hostess  could  give.  She  loved  read- 
ing, but  her  eyes  soon  grew  wear3^ 

Alice  was  heartily  glad  to  read  to  the  gentle, 
cultivated  woman  hy  the  hour,  and  enjoyed  the 
discussions  which  naturally  arose  on  the  sub- 
jects of  their  reading.  On  sunny  days  the 
invalid  crept  to  the  beach,  supported  by  Alice's 
arm,  and  thus  soothed  and  cheered,  grew  won- 
derfully better. 

Meantime,  Alice  was  not  without  conjectures 
as  to  the  possible  relationship  which  might 
exist  betAveen  her  new  friend  and  the  offending 
Harold.  These  had  been  answered  at  an  early 
stage  of  their  acquaintance  by  some  reference 
on  the  part  of  Mrs.  Neale  to  her  home  on  the 
far-off  Hudson ;  but  even  then  Alice  could  not 
bring  herself  to  mention  that  she  had  ever 
known  her  son  ;  she  had  no  wish  to  renew  her 
acquaintance  with  him. 

But  now  and  then  there   were  tones  in  his 


188  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

mother's  voice,  a  peculiar,  grave,  almost  sad 
smile,  that  brought  Harold  Neale  back  to  her 
memory  with  a  strange  pang  amazing  to  her- 
self. 

Of  Ashland  they  saw  and  heard  nothing  for 
fully  a  week  after  they  had  settled  at  Mission 
House.  This  was  the  most  extraordinary,  as  he 
had  engaged  a  bedroom  to  be  kept  read3'^  for 
his  occupation  ;  and  Mrs.  Jarrett,  as  well  as  her 
guests,  were  quite  excited  about  his  coming,  as 
the  former  had  proclaimed  him  a  millionaire  of 
unbounded  generosity  and  *'as  handsome  a 
fellow  as  ever  you  saw  in  your  life." 

He  came,  however,  one  warm,  thunderous 
afternoon.  Alice  was  struck  by  his  gaunt  and 
ghastly  looks,  the  dull,  sad  look  of  his  heavy 
eyes. 

'•'  Have  you  been  ill,  cousin  ?  "  she  asked,  with 
genuine  anxiety.  "  Is  that  the  reason  we  have 
not  heard  from  you  or  seen  yon  ?  " 

"Yes.  I  have  had  a  bad  turn  this  time  :  an 
attack  of  my  old  fever  and  ague,  but  I'm  all 
right  now.  And  you  are  sorr^^  for  your  un- 
couth cousin  ?  I  see  you  are,  and  that  does  me 
a  heap  of  good.  You  know  I  have  never  had 
any  one  to  care  for  me." 

''Well,  I  do,  Tom,  and  I  ought;  no  one  has 
been  so  good  to  me  as  you  have." 

As  she  spoke  a  flash  of  lightning,  accom- 
panied by  a  peal  of  thunder,  made  Mrs.  Will- 
iams cover  her  face  with  her  hands,  exclaiming: 
"God  bless  us  !  " 

Alice  unconsciously  clung  to  Ashland.  He 
with  a  sudden  gesture  threw  one  arm  around 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  189 

her  and  pressed  her  closcily  to  him^  almost 
painfully  close.  The  darkness  slightly  cleared 
and  Alice,  startled^  alarmed,  quickly  disen- 
gaged  herself. 

'*I  beg  your  pardon,"  cried  Ashland,  con- 
fusedly. "  I  forgot,  I  believe  I  was  nervous.  I 
didn't  know  what  I  was  doing.  Did  I  hurt 
you  ?  You  are  such  a  delicate  creature  I  ought 
never  to  touch  you."  He  threw  himself  on  the 
lounge.  "  When  the  row  is  over  get  me  a  cup 
of  tea,  like  a  good  girl;  my  head  aches  still." 
He  pressed  his  hands  to  his  brow. 

Alice  hastened  to  bring  the  desired  beverage 
herself,  placing  it  with  kindliest  care  on  a  small 
table  beside  the  sufferer,  and  then  bathed  his 
brow  with  eau-de-cologne,  all  in  so  simple  and 
sisterly  a  fashion  that  the  most  conceited  cox- 
comb that  ever  believed  in  his  own  irresistible 
attractions  could  not  have  misconstrued  her. 
She  gradually  recovered  the  uneasiness  his  un- 
usual looks  and  manner  had  aroused,  and  by 
dinner-time  all  things  seemed  as  usual. 

Thomas  Ashland's  visit  lasted  three  days. 
He  seemed  reluctant,  yet  obliged  to  go,  and 
made  many  promises  to  return  soon. 

Alice  was  ashamed  of  herself  :  she  felt  such  a 
relief  at  his  departure.  His  words  had  been 
extremely  variable ;  often  he  seemed  to  strug- 
gle against  some  impulse,  some  unaccountable 
ill-temper,  of  which  Alice  could  not  help  being 
conscious.  Her  attention  to  Mrs.  Neale — why 
should  she  give  so  much  of  her  time  to  a 
stranger  ? 

' '  One  might  think  you  were  paid  to  run  and 


190  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

care  for  that  old  woman/'  he  gro'^'led,  just 
before  starting'  for  'Frisco.  ''  I  believe  you 
would  rather  read  to  her  than  talk  to  me." 

"But,  cousin,  Mrs.  Neale  is  ill  and  lonely; 
I  am  really  of  some  comfort  to  her.  She  wants 
me  a  great  deal  more  than  you  do." 

"  How  do  3^ou  know  that  ?  I  have  more  trou- 
bles than  you  know  of.  Look  here,  I  have  a 
great  mind  to  tell  j'ou  all  about  them  when  I 
come  back  ;  would  j-ou  care  to  hear  ?  " 

*'Yes;  I  should  care  very  much,  indeed," 
she  said,  earnestly.  "  I  should  be  very  g-lad  to 
be  of  the  least  use  to  you." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Ashland,  hoarsely,  and 
he  smoked  with  energy  for  some  moments. 
"  You've  a  kind  heart,  Alice,  and  if  loneliness 
is  a  claim  on  it  I  am  lonely  enough.  Well, 
when  I  come  back  you  and  I  will  take  a  ride  to- 
gether, and  I  will  tell  you  my  troubles.  Now, 
little  cousin,  good-bj^;  but  I'll  come  back  soon — 
soon."  He  pressed  her  hand  painfully  hard  and 
hurried  away,  leaving  her  by  no  means  happy. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

All  things  fell  into  the  ordinarj^  routine  when 
Ashland's  disturbing  presence  was  withdrawn, 
and  Alice's  readings  and  conversations  with 
Mrs.  Neale  grew  more  frequent  and  prolonged. 
She  generally  spent  the  evening  in  her  friend's 
room,  as  Mrs.  Williams  deeply  enjoyed  the  gos- 
sip and  cards  in  the  drawing-room.  Although 
the  least  inquisitive   of  mortals,   Mrs.   Neale 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  191 

asked  her  young-  favorite  a  few  questions  re- 
specting- her  relative,  which,  though  very- 
guarded,  impressed  Alice  with  the  idea  that 
she  was  somehow  distrustful  of  him. 

"  I  imagine  he  has  known  neither  mother  nor 
sisters.  Family  life  is  of  enormous  importance 
to  every  one,  but  especially  to  men ;  they  need 
softening  so  much." 

Alice  assented  ;  and  as  Mrs.  Neale  did  not 
seem  disposed  to  talk  any  more,  she  took  up 
the  hook  the}'-  had  been  reading  and  began.  It 
was  one  of  Bulwer's  novels.  Time  went 
quickly  ;  Alice  was  absorbed  in  the  trials  and 
tribulations  of  "  Gentleman  Waife." 

Without,  it  was  a  wild  night ;  within,  it  was 
homelike  and  cheerful.  A  bright  fire  and  gay 
chintz  hangings,  Mrs.  Neale  in  her  armchair, 
Alice  in  a  pretty  soft  gray  dress,  with  lace 
about  the  throat  and  arms,  seated  on  a  low 
seat,  her  book  on  her  knees,  the  lamp  on  the 
table  beside  her,  shining  down  on  her  graceful 
head,  her  earnest,  thoughtful  face — it  was  a 
sweet  picture,  at  least  it  seemed  so  to  some  one 
who  opened  the  door  softly,  so  softly  that  for  a 
moment  they  were  not  aware  a  third  person 
was  added  to  their  number  ;  then  the  sudden 
sense  of  a  disturbing  presence  made  Alice  look 
up— to  meet  Harold  Neale's  eyes. 

With  a  bow  and  a  smile  to  her  he  went 
quickly  across  to  Mrs.  ISTeale,  and  exclaiming, 
"  Well,  dear  mother,  how  goes  it  ?  "  kissed  her 
tenderly. 

Alice  put  down  her  book  gently  and  had  al- 
most reached  the  door  when  Mrs.  ]!*Teale  cried  : 


193  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

"T>o  not  run  away,  my  dear.  Let  me  at 
least  introduce  my  son  to  you." 

She  was  oblig-ed  to  return  and  stood,  witli 
downcast  eyes  and  crimson  cheeks,  unspeakably 
annoyed. 

''I  have  alread}^  the  pleasure  of  knowing- 
Miss  Ashland,"  said  Harold,  with  a  joyous  ring* 
in  his  tone,  as  he  advanced  to  shake  hands  with 
her,  and  then  stopped.  Her  attitude,  her  whole 
expression,  showed  she  was  not  going-  to  g-ive 
him  her  hand,  or  to  respond  to  his  g-reeting-  be- 
yond what  civilit}'  required. 

"How! — you  know  Miss  Ashland?"  asked 
his  mother,  greatly  surprised.  ''Why  did  you 
not  tell  me  so  before  ?  " 

''  Because,  until  your  last  letter  you  never 
mentioned  the  name  of  the  young  lady  who 
has  made  your  stay  here  so  pleasant  and  profit- 
able. I  have  to  thank  you  heartily,  Miss  Ash- 
land ;  but  I  fear  you  have  forgotten  me  ?  " 

"No,"  returned  Alice,  recovering  herself, 
and  remembering  that  it  would  not  do  to  let 
her  disappointment  in  him  appear.  "  I  was  a 
little  startled  when  you  came  in  so  unexpect- 
edly." 

"Then  you  had  no  idea  he  was  my  son?" 
asked  Mrs.  Neale. 

"  I  thought  it  probable  when  you  spoke  of 
Peekskill,  but — "     She  paused. 

"No  doubt  you  had  many  more  interesting 
topics  to  discuss,"  said  Harold,  laughing.  He 
wished  to  change  the  subject.  He  thought 
Alice's  silence  respecting  himself  arose  from 
reluctance    to    revert    to    the    mortifjang  cir- 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  193 

cumstances  connected  with  their  acquaintance- 
ship. 

'^  Good-evening-,"  returned  Alice,  with  a 
pretty,  slight,  respectful  courtes}^  to  Mrs. 
Neale.  "  I  have  put  a  mark  in  the  book ; 
you  can  find  the  place  easily.  Good-evening," 
and,  with  a  little  hesitation,  she  g-ave  her  hand 
to  Harold. 

''If  3^ou  ivill  go,"  he  said,  oi)ening'  the  door 
for  her.  "  I  can  see  my  mother  is  a  different 
creature  and  I  am  sure  much  of  the  improve- 
ment is  due  to  3^ou." 

Alice  smiled,  shook  her  head  and  escaped 
downstairs  ;  but  not  to  the  drawing'-room  ;  she 
wanted  to  be  alone.  In  their  own  apartment 
the  "fire  burned  cheerfully  and  brig-htly, 
and  lig-hted  the  room  sufEiciently.  Alice  sat 
down  on  the  hearthrug  and  thoug-ht,  in  a  hur- 
ried, confused  way.  "He  has  come — he  is  here," 
was  the  phrase  that  repeated  itself  over  and 
over  again  in  her  ears — the  man  who  had 
thought  so  lig-htly  of  her  as  to  say  he  had  bet- 
ter avoid  her  evident  liking  for  him.  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven was  not  honest,  but  she  could  not  invent 
such  a  stor3^  Was  it  possible  that  that  un- 
affected, grave,  composed  man  could  be  guilty 
of  such  a  piece  of  boyish  coxcombry  ? 

Guilty  or  not,  she  was  almost  dismayed  to 
feel  so  very,  very  glad  to  see  him.  She  was 
angry  with  herself ;  it  wasn't  want  of  proper 
pride. 

Then  the  past  came  back  to  her — oh,  how 
vividly  ! — all  those  months  since  their  mem- 
orable  meeting   at    the   great   World's   Fair ! 


194  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

At  her  first  plunge  in  the  brilliant  life  to 
which  Mrs.  Craven  had  introduced  her,  the 
only  one  whose  presence  gave  her  a  sense  of 
safety,  of  solid  ground,  was  Harold  Neale. 
But  since  they  last  met  Alice  had  learned 
much ;  she  had  eaten  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of 
knowledge  and  profited  by  the  repast.  She 
must  not  allow  this  consciousness  of  Harold's 
puerile  vanity  to  disturb  either  her  mind  or  her 
manners ;  she  must  be  strong  to  live  her  own 
life,  to  mark  out  her  own  road.  Mr.  Neale 
could  be  nothing  to  her ;  she  had  much  to  see 
and  to  do  apart  from  him.  Indeed,  she  would 
resist  these  unprofitable  musings  now. 

She  rose  as  she  came  to  this  conclusion  and 
looked  round  for  her  work-basket.  She  would 
take  it  to  the  drawing-room,  and  if  Miss  Miller, 
the  locomotive,  elderly  young  lady,  was  not 
playing  the  piano,  she  would  ask  her  to  go  to 
the  old  Mission  Church  with  her  tc-morrow. 
It  was  contemptible  to  sit  and  dream  about 
follies. 

The  succeeding  da^^s,  however,  showed  Alice 
that  in  the  matter  of  avoiding  Harold  hers  was 
not  the  onlj'^  will  at  work. 

He  had  evidently  made  up  his  mind  to  see  as 
much  as  possible  of  her,  and  his  mother  sec- 
onded him  in  her  gentle,  kindly  way.  Mrs. 
Williams  was  soon  won  over  completel3^ 

She  quite  well  remembered  Harold  once  she 
saw  him  again,  though  when  out  of  sight  he 
slipped  her  memor3^ 

To  Alice,  in  spite  of  her  resolutions  to  be 
coldly  prudent   and   steadily  distrustful,  these 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  195 

days  were  unaccountably^  delightful.  The 
hearty  gratitude  of  Harold  for  her  kind  atten- 
tions to  his  mother  touched  her  heart.  His 
sincerity  could  not  be  doubted.  A  g-reat  long-- 
ing-  to  g-ive  him  her  whole  confidence  strugg-led 
within  her  against  a  stern  determination  to 
show  no  preference  in  her  manner. 

The  weather  was  delightful  and  Harold  often 
took  his  mother  out  driving.  Alice  was  always 
asked  to  accompany  them  and  sometimes  ac- 
cepted ;  but  Harold  Feale  could  not  resist  the 
impression  that  she  quietly  avoided  him.  Was 
it  that  the  associations  connected  with  him  were 
painful  ?  Could  she  class  him  with  Nevin  ? 
Did  she  think  him  a  poltroon  like  his  friend  ? 
Or,  had  Mrs.  Craven  made  mischief?  This 
was  possible. 

As  Harold  Neale  pondered  these  things  on  his 
way  back  from  a  ramble  along  the  beach,  he 
caught  sight  of  a  certain  brown  hat  and 
pheasant's  breast  which  he  knew  well  and  soon 
overtook. 

"  Has  Mrs.  Williams  a  lazy  fit  that  you  are 
walking  alone,.  Miss  Ashland  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  looked  up  quickly,  the  color  rising  in  her 
cheek  for  a  moment.  How  well  those  delicate, 
flitting  blushes  became  her  ! 

''She  is  busy  Avriting  to  her  son,"  replied 
Ahce.  "  My  cousin,  Mr.  Ashland,  has  got  him 
a  good  situation  at  Auckland,  New  Zealand, 
and  dear  Mrs.  Williams  is  so  glad." 

"I  suppose  so,"  throwing  away  his  cigar. 
"  I  did  not  know  she  had  a  son.  You  expect 
your  cousin  down  here,  do  you  not  ?  "  ^ 


1%  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

"  We  always  expect  him  ;  he  is  a  little  un- 
certain/' 

A  pause.  Neale  was  puzzled  how  to  bring 
the  conversation  round  to  herself  and  the 
chang-e  he  perceived  in  her  manner. 

"  My  mother  is  not  quite  so  well  to-day.  I 
persuaded  her  to  stay  indoors.  Will  you  look 
in  on  her  when  you  go  in  ?  You  have  done  her 
so  much  good  ;  you  suit  her  exactly.  In  short, 
if  you  do  not  think  it  audacious  of  me  to  men- 
tion such  a  possibility^  as  your  growing  old ,  I 
should  say  you  will,  in  the  course  of  inexorable 
time,  be  just  such  an  old  lady  as  my  mother 
now  is." 

'*  That  is  a  high  compliment,"  said  Alice, 
with  a  pleased  smile. 

"  Still  it  is  diflacult  to  fancy  you  anything  but 
young.  Now  do  not  turn  toward  the  house. 
It  is  so  fresh  and  invigorating,  though  a  little 
wild  ;  the  air  will  do  you  good  and  I  want  j-ou 
to  explain  something  that  puzzles  me." 

"  What  can  it  be  ?  "  asked  Alice.  "  I  am  not 
likely  to  know  more  than  you." 

"You  must  not  think  me  presumptuous;  in 
short,  will  you  grant  me  plenary  absolution  for 
anything  I  am  going  to  say  ?  " 

*'Do  not  say  anything  disagreeable,"  said 
Alice,  looking  up  entreatingly. 

"  Do  you  think  I  would  pain  you  in  any 
waj^?"  asked  Harold,  meeting  her  ej'-es,  the 
expression  in  his  own  thrilling  her  with  a 
strange,  wild  delight  that  had  in  it  something 
of  pain.  "Well,  I  will  trust  to  your  under- 
standing me,"   he   resumed.      ''When   I  first 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  197 

met  you.  Miss  Ashland,  we  soon  became 
friends ;  and  I  was  under  the  impression  that 
you  felt  how  thoroughlj^  I  appreciated  the 
frankness,  the  delightful  sincerity  of  your  nat- 
ure ;  in  short,  that  you  were  inclined  to  trust 
me,  that  j^ou  might,  perhaps,  if  you  needed  it, 
have  asked  me  to  do  j^ou  a  service  as  naturally 
as  you  would  an  elder  brother.  Now,  this  is 
all  changed.  I  cannot  say  where  the  change  is, 
but  you  have  closed  your  petals  and  hidden 
your  heart.  Tell  me,  has  any  one  spoken 
against  me  to  5^0 u  ?  Why  do  you  treat  me  as 
if  I  were  more  a  stranger  than  the  first  day  I 
met  you  ?  " 

Alice  was  greath'  puzzled  how  to  answer. 
She  could  not  repeat  Mrs.  Craven's  speech  re- 
specting him  ;  she  could  not  otherwise  account 
for  the  change  in  herself. 

"  No  one  has  spoken  against  you,  Mr. 
Neale,  '"'  she  said,  keeping  her  eyes  fixed  on 
the  ground.  "I  did  not  think  I  was  so 
changed." 

''  Then  you  are  changed  ?  " 

"I  am  very  much  changed— in  every  way.  I 
feel  so  much  older,  so  different.  It  seems  years 
and  years  since  I  first  met  you.  I  do  not  in- 
tend to  be — to  be  uncivil — " 

*' I  want  a  great  deal  more  than  civility," 
said  Harold,  trying  to  steal  a  look  into  her 
eyes ;  "  I  want  as  much  as  I  give,  as  I  have 
given." 

"It  is  growing  very  stormy,"  exclaimed 
Alice,  abruptly,  and,  turning,    she    began    to 


198  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

walk  fast.  Harold  felt  checked,  but  was  not  a 
man  to  be  easily  daunted. 

"When  I  rushed  off  to  see  my  mother, "  he 
resumed,  "  full  of  warmest  g-ratitudeto  you  for 
all  your  tender  care  of  her,  and  looking-  forward 
to  the  pleasure  of  renewing  our  former  friend- 
ship just  at  the  same  stage  as  we  had  been  when 
separated  by  no  fault  of  mine,  I  did  not  expect 
such  a  disappointment." 

"  I  have  read  somewhere,"  said  Alice,  with  a 
transparent  attempt  at  evasion,  "  that  nothing 
once  broken  off  can  ever  be  renewed  again  ex- 
actly as  it  was." 

"I  am  sorry  to  hear  yoxx  say  so,"  said  Har- 
old, gravely.  "  I  hoped  earnestly  that  jom  would 
not  think  me  less  worthy  of  your  frank  friendli- 
ness now  than  you  did  four  months  ago.  I 
can  only  accept  your  decision,  feeling  as  poor 
Tom  Moore  must  have  done  when  he  penned 
those  exquisite  lines  in   'Lalla  Rookh': 

"  '  'Twas  ever  thus,  from  childhood's  hour 

I've  seen  my  fondest  hopes  decay, 
I  never  loved  a  tree  or  flower 

But  'twas  the  first  to  fade  away. 
I  never  reared  a  dear  gazelle 

To  glad  me  with  its  bright  blue  eye, 
But  when  it  came  to  know  me  well 

And  love  me,  it  was  sure  to  die.' " 

"You  are  verj'- good.  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
rude  or  unkind,"  faltered  Alice,  deeply  touched. 
Oh  !  ought  she  to  have  believed  Mrs.  Craven  ? 
Was  it  possible  that  he  loved  her,  and  she  re- 
pelling him  ?     Yet  how  could  she  explain  ? 

"Rude  or  unkind,"  repeated  Harold,  "that 
you  could  never  be.  But  I  need  not  pain  j^ou 
by  compelling  you  to  speak  more  plainly.     So 


ALICE  ASHLAND.  199 

g-ood-by  for  the  present.  You  will  see  my 
mother  this  evening",  if  you  can  ?  ' ' 

They  had  reached  the  g-ate.  He  opened  it 
and  raised  his  hat  as  she  passed  through. 
Then,  setting-  it  hard  down,  he  turned  and 
walked  rapidly  away  in  the  teeth  of  the  wind. 

"  Mr.  Ashland  arrived  4bout  half  an  hour 
ag-o,  miss,"  said  a  servant  whom  she  met  in 
the  hall. 

Thankful  for  the  timely  notice,  Alice  slipped 
away  to  her  own  room  to  take  off  her  hat,  to 
think  over  the  hopeless  tang-le  in  which  she 
seemed  involved. 

As  soon  as  she  recovered  herself  she  went 
into  the  little  drawing-'room  to  g-reet  her  cousin. 

Mrs.  Williams  was  sitting-  by  the  fire,  knit- 
ting- in  hand,  and  a  l  omewhat  troubled  expres- 
sion on  her  countenance.  Thomas  Ashland 
was  striding-  to  and  fro,  his  brow  knit,  his 
hands  plunged  in  the  side  pockets  of  his  coat. 

''How  do  you  do,  Thomas?"  said  Alice, 
cheerfully.     "  I  hope  you  are  better  ?  " 

"No,  I  am  not,"  roughly,  stopping-  short  in 
front  of  her ;  ''  and  you  are  not  well,  either. 
You  have  been  cr^dng-  your  eyes  out.  Don't 
d&nj  it ! — I  see  you  have.  W hat's  the  matter, 
little  cousin  ?  Can  I  help  you  ?  "  These  last 
words  in  a  wonderfullj^  softened  tone  that 
touched  Alice. 

''There  is  nothing  the  matter,  Tom,"  she 
returned,  stretching-  out  her  hands.  "  I  have 
been  walking-  ag-ainst  the  wind,  and  it  has  made 
my  eyes  red  and  sore." 

"Lies  !  lies  !  "  muttered  Ashland  to  himself. 


200  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

*'  Where  does  that  fellow  Neale  come  from  ? 
How  do  you  know  him  ?  I  saw  you  walk  past 
with  him,  and  I  watched  and  watched,  and 
thought  you'd  never  come  back ;  but  you  did, 
still  with  him.  How  did  you  come  to  know 
him  ?  " 

''  He  is  a  friend  of  Mrs.  Craven's,"  said  Alice, 
dreadfullj^  alarmed  and  much  surprised. 

"  Ha !  traitors  every  one.  He  is  a  traitor, 
too.  You  must  speak  to  him  no  more,  Alice  ; 
I  forbid  you." 

"  Cousin,  I  cannot  be  rude  to  an  unoffending 
acquaintance  because  jon  bid  me,"  returned 
Alice,  firml3^  ''  I  do  not  particularly  wish  to 
walk  or  talk  with  Mr.  Neale,  but  I  will  not  be 
forbidden  by  you  to  speak  to  any  one  !  " 

"  I  suppose  not  !  I  am  of  no  account  in  your 
eyes.    I  had  better  go.    I  am.  not  wanted  here." 

''Oh,  my  gracious,  Mr.  Ashland!"  cried 
Mrs.  Williams. 

''Really,  Thomas,  3^ou  are  too  silly,"  said 
Alice,  with  a  pleasant  laugh.  "You  must  be 
hungry  and  out  of  temper  to  make  a  quarrel 
out  of  notiiing.  Don't  you  see  how  foolish  it 
all  is  ?  Suppose  I  were  to  be  angry  with  you 
if  you  walked  out  with — say  Mrs.  Jarrett,or  even 
her  daughter — " 

Ashland  interrupted  her  with  a  boisterous 
laugh. 

"Just  so.  That  tvould  be  a  queer  turn. 
Never  mind,  Alice ;  I  wouldn't  walk  with  a 
living  soul  if  it  would  vex  you." 

"Well,  do  not  vex  me  by  being  cross,"  she 
returned. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  201 

''  All  rig-ht ;  I  am  a  little  out  of  sorts.  Don't 
let  us  say  anything-  more  about  it." 

It  had  been  a  most  trying  day  for  Alice.  She 
looked  forward  with  infinite  dread  to  dinner. 
She  feared  that  her  cousin  might  break  out 
with  some  insulting  speech  to  Harold.  To  her 
infinite  relief,  however,  Harold  Neale  was  not 
at  table  and  the  evening  went  over  quietly. 

''You  are  home  early/'  said  Mrs.  Neale, 
when  her  son  came  to  say  good-night. 

"  And  3^ou  are  late  ;  I  hardly  expected  j^ou 
to  be  still  up." 

''  I  have  been  spending  the  evening  with  Mrs. 
Williams  and  Miss  Ashland.  She  could  not 
come  to  me  because  her  cousin  arrived  to-day." 

"  Ah  !  what  is  he  like  ?  What  do  you  think 
of  him  ?  "  asked  Harold,  eagerl3^ 

''  I  cannot  quite  understand  him  ;  I  do  not 
exactly  like  him.  He  was  very  silent  at  first 
this  evening ;  then  he  burst  into  talk,  and 
talked  well  enough." 

''  Do  "you  think  he  is  more  than  a  cousin  to 
Miss  Ashland  ?  Do  you  think  she  will  marrj^ 
him  ?  "  asked  Harold,  slowly. 

"  It  is  impossible  to  sa5^  I  think  not ;  I 
hope  not.    I  fanc}'  she  is  a  little  afraid  of  him." 

"  I  hope  she  is." 

"  Why,  what  has  put  such  a  wish  into  your 
head?"' 

'' Because— because  I  should  like  to  marry 
her  myself,"  returned  Harold. 

''Yes,"  said  his  mother,  softly,  "I  have 
seen  that  \o\x  love  her  ;  I  wish  that  she  may 
return    vour  affection.     She  would  be  a  sweet 


202  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

daughter  to  me.  Do  you  tliink  she  hkes  you, 
Harold?" 

"  I  cannot  tell.  I  thought  so  last  spring,  but 
there  was  a  rascally  plot  weaving  round  us  at 
the  time,  and  I  was  bound  hand  and  foot.  I 
will  tell  you  all  some  day.  Now  I  feel  con- 
vinced some  one  has  pat  her  against  me.  She 
has  changed ;  she  distrusts  me.  Yet  I  have  a 
sort  of  instinctive  feeling  that  she  might  have 
loved  me  at  one  time."  Harold  passed  his 
hand  over  his  brow,  but  the  mother's  loving 
eyes  caught  an  expression  of  pain. 

"  You  love  her  very  much,  dear  ?  "  she  asked, 
tenderly. 

'^With  all  my  soul  !  "  said  Harold,  emphat- 
ically. ''  But  I  have  lost  heart  since  she  re- 
buffed me  this  morning.  Still,  I  will  hold  on  a 
while  longer.  I  will  see  her  and  this  cousin  tOr 
gether,  arid  judge  for  myself.  If  there  is  no 
hope  I  will  be  off  home." 

"  I  do  not  for  a  moment  believe  that  you  will 
find  a  rival  in  Mr.  Ashland.  I  do  not  think 
Alice  is  even  glad  when  he  comes.  She  gives 
me,  as  I  said,  the  impression  of  being  afraid  of 
him." 

''  Afraid  ?  Oh,  that  can  hardly  be  !  Well, 
good-night.  I  fear  I  am  not  a  lucky  fellow, 
except  in  having  such  a  dear  old  mother."  He 
stooped,  kissed  her  affectionately  and  went 
away  to  his  room. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  203 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

At  dinner  the  next  daj'  Harold  encountered 
Ashland.  That  eccentric  person  sat  opposite 
to  Harold  and  watched  him  all  through  dinner 
with  a  scowl  of  dislike,  and,  when  by  chance 
they  spoke  together,  Ashland  made  a  point  of 
contradicting  him  on  every  point  in  the  rough- 
est and  most  abrupt  manner.  Harold  bore  all 
this  with  unshaken  good  -  temper,  occasion- 
ally sending  a  keen,  inquiring  glance  across  the 
table  at  his  wordy  vis-a-vis. 

Dinner  over,  Mrs.  Neale  asked  Alice  and  her 
friends  to  her  room,  and,  though  Ashland  ac- 
cepted, he  did  not  stay  long.  With  a  confused 
apologj^  about  having  promised  some  ''fel- 
lows "  to  p\a,y  a  game  of  pool  at  the  Monterey 
Hotel;^.he  said  good-night. 

His  p^irting  glance  made  Alice  uneasy. 

It  rested  on  Harold  with  so  murderous  an 
expression  of  hate  and  furj^  that  she  could  not 
collect  her  thoughts  for  a  few  minutes.  What 
danger  did  it  threaten  ?  or  was  her  fancy  groAvn 
morbid  ?  She  felt  altogether  unnerved  and 
glad  to  retire,  though  there  had  been  pleasant 
moments  during  the  evening. 

When  Thomas  Ashland  next  presented  him- 
self to  his  cousin  he  was  in  a  very  quiet,  melan- 
choW  mood.  He  asked  her  to  come  out  for  a 
walk.  The  afternoon  was  soft  and  quiet,  and 
Alice,  glad  to  be  able  to  grant  a  request  of  his, 
at  once  assented. 

"We  will  go  toward  the  old  Mission,"  said 


204  ALICE  ASHLAND. 

Ashland,  as  they  passed  through  the  gate. 
"  There  are  not  so  many  people  that  way." 

''Very  well,"  returned  Alice,  meekly. 

"  So  that  fellow  Neale  lives  in  the  house,"  re- 
sumed Ashland.  "I  see  him  writing-  in  his  room." 

"It  is  nice  for  him  to  be  with  his  mother," 
said  Alice,  turning  her  eyes  away. 

"Very  likely" — grimly.  "Well,  I'm  not 
going  to  stay  in  the  same  house.  I  moved  off 
to  the  hotel  last  night  ;  didn't  they  tell  jou  ? 
No?" 

"You  would  have  been  more  comfortable 
here,  would  you  not  ?  " 

To  this  Ashland  made  no  reply,  and  '  they 
walked  on  in  silence  till  they  reached  a  shady 
nook,  "Let  us  sit  down,"  he  said,  abruptly. 
"  It  is  not  too  cold  for  you,  eh  ?  " 

"Oh,  not  at  all,"  returned  Alice,  w^ho  was 
feeling  uncomfortable. 

"  I  said  I  would  tell  you  mj  troubles  when  I 
came  next,  if  you  cared  to  listen,"  he  began. 

"Yes,  I  remember;  and  I  shall  be  glad  to 
hear  them." 

"It  isn't  a  stor}^  to  be  glad  about,"  said 
Ashland.  "  Well,  here  goes.  I  suppose  now, 
Alice,  you  think  I  am  a  quiet,  steady,  stay-at- 
home  man?  " 

"You  always  seem  happy  enough  with  us, 
and  we  are  quiet,  I  am  sure." 

"  Happy  I — a3^,  that  I  am,  if  I  could  always 
be  with  you !  Now  I  shall  tell  you  what  I 
really  am — a  desperate  drunkard,  nearly-  a 
hopeless  one." 

"That  is  impossible,  Thomas!"  cried  Alice, 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  305 

amazed.  "Why,  yon  rarely  touch  a  glass  of 
wine  ;  you  take  only  tea  or  milk  or — ' ' 

^'  Ay,  when  I  am  with  you.  Don't  you  see, 
I  dare  not  taste  anj^thing-  strong-  or  I  couldn't 
stop?  Sometimes  I  keep  clear  of  it  for  a  month 
and  begin  to  think  I  am  cured  ;  then  the  dread- 
ful, desperate  longing-  for  spirits,  wine,  any- 
thing, comes  over  me  and  I  must  have  it,  if  I 
tore  down  walls  and  murdered  men  to  g-et  it !  " 
He  stopped  and  wiped  his  brow  in  great  agita- 
tion. "  When  I  first  came  over  from  New 
Zealand  there  was  a  g-ood  deal  of  excitement 
over  both  our  affairs.  I  g"ot  better,  calmer, 
stronger  ;  but  after  a  bit  the  old  craving-  came 
back.  I  have  something  more  to  say.  Do  you 
remember  I  once  offered  to  marry  you  ?  I 
didn't  care  much  about  it,  but  I  thought  it 
might  suit  you  at  the  time.  Now  I  want  you 
to  marry  me  for  my  sake.  Don't  shrink  away 
as  if  3^ou  feared  me,  Alice  ;  you  must  marry 
me.  It  drives  me  mad  to  see  other  people 
come  near  you,  even  women.  I  want  you  all  to 
myself,  away  from  every  creature.  ThatNeale 
dares  to  look  at  you  and  love  you  !  I'd  like  to 
cut  his  throat !  Answer  me,  Alice.  Will  3'ou 
save  me,  and  marry  me  ?  " 

^'  I  never  dreamed  you  wished  to  marry  me, 
Tom  ;  I  have  learned  to  think  of  you  as  a  dear 
brother.  I  will  do  everything  I  can  for  you — 
hut  marry  you,  that  I  cannot  do." 

"  What  is  your  objection  ?  " 

"  In  truth,  I  have  not  the  courage  to — to 
marrj^  you,  after  your  account  of  j^our  tenden- 
cies— your  difficulties — " 


206  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

''Then  you  arc  cold-hearted,  indifferent." 
He  burst  into  a  ming-led  torrent  of  reproaches 
and  entreaties.  Alice,  thoug-h  trembUng  from 
head  to  foot,  continued  tenderly  though  firmly 
to  refuse.  At  last,  with  a  wild,  despairing-  cry, 
he  started  up  and  rushed  away  toward  the 
shore,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight. 

Alice,  though  hardly  able  to  stand,  hastened 
in  the  opposite  direction,  growing  calmer  as 
she  went,  and  at  last  reached  the  shelter  of  her 
own  room,  where  she  described  to  the  astonished 
and  sympathizing  Mrs.  Williams  the  trying  in- 
terview she  had  just  had. 

"  What  will  he  do  ?  "  was  Alice's  cry.  "  He 
seemed  quite  out  of  his  mind.  I  am  afraid  of 
his  hurting  himself." 

''Oh,  no,  I  don't  suppose  he  will,"  returned 
Mrs.  Williams,  soothingly.  ''He  is  odd  and 
eccentric,  but  I  don't  think  he  is  so  foolish  as 
to  do  himself  any  harm.  I  will  get  Mrs.  Jar- 
rett  to  send  over  to  the  Monterey  a  little  later 
on  and  find  out  if  he  has  come  in." 

"It  is  all  so  unfortunate,"  said  Alice. 
"Where  can  we  turn?  Mr.  Bond  seems  to 
have  quarreled  with  you,  and  Mr.  Watts  is  so 
undecided,  and  now  we  have  lost  Thomas  !  I 
shall  always  be  afraid  of  him,  though  I  would 
give  anything  to  be  able  to  help  him.  Oh,  how 
my  head  throbs  !  " 

"  Will  you  lie  down  ?  Perhaps  3'ou  will  get 
a  little  rest." 

Mrs.  Jarrett's  messenger  reported,  first,  that 
Mr.  Ashland  had  gone  out  early  and  had  not 
j^et  returned,  and,  on  being  again  sent,  brought 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  207 

word  that  Mr.  Ashland  had  just  come  in  and 
was  in  his  room. 

When  Mrs.  Jarre tt's  g-uests  sat  down  to  din- 
ner Harold  Neale  was  much  exercised  in  his 
mind  by  the  absence  of  Miss  Ashland,  especially 
as  Mrs.  Williams's  honest  face  showed  uneasi- 
ness and  expectancy.  She  g-lanced  at  the  door ; 
she  forg-ot  to  answer  when  spoken  to ;  she 
scarcely  ate.  He  remembered  seeing-  Alice  go 
with  her  cousin  in  the  afternoon,  and  he  drew 
the  conclusion  that  they  had  come  to  some 
understanding— or  misunderstanding-. 

''Mother,  perhaps  Miss  Ashland  will  see 
you,"  he  said  in  a  low  voice,  as  they  rose 
from  table. 

She  guve  a  little  nod  of  assent,  and  went 
round  to  join  Mrs.  Williams  at  the  door. 

Harold  saw  them  go  out  together,  and  went 
to  his  mother's  room  to  await  her  return.  Her 
visit  seemed  to  him  of  portentous  length,  but 
she  came  at  last.  "  Well  ?  "  he  said,  drawing 
her  chair  forward  ;  "  well  ?  " 

"  She  is  better  and  only  feared  the  heat  and 
smell  of  dinner  might  bring  back  her  head- 
ache ;  but,  Harold,  I  think  she  has  had  a 
shock  of  some  kind,  she  is  so  tremulous  and 
shaken.  I  am  sure  the  cousin  has  something 
to  do  with  it,  for  Mrs.  Williams  said  when  we 
had  left  the  room  :  '  If  the  poor  dear  had  a 
father  or  a  brother,  or  any  one  to  look  after 
her;  I  am  no  good.'  I  began  to  say  some- 
thing about  her  cousin,  when  she  exclaimed  : 
'  Don't  talk  of  him  ;  he  frightens  the  life  out 
of  her.'  " 


208  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

''That  is  evident,"  cried  Harold,  much  dis- 
turbed. "  What  is  best  to  be  done  ?  I  am  so 
uncertain  of  her  feelings  toward  me  I  fear  to 
propose.  As  a  rejected  lover  I  should  be  no 
use  whatever  to  her ;  as  a  friend  I  mig-ht  be 
some  help." 

"Let  us  see  what  a  few  daj'^s  may  bring- 
forth.     I  do  not  think  she  is  averse  to  you." 

Harold  shook  his  head.  'SShe  never  g-ives 
me  the  faintest  encouragement.  We  are  not 
even  as  good  friends  as  we  were  at  first.  I 
wish  her  life  were  more  fortunate." 

"  You  will  make  it  more  fortunate  yet,  Har- 
old," said  Mrs.  Neale,  lovingly.  ''We  know 
not  what  to-morrow  may  bring  us." 

The  morrow  brought  a  climax  little  antici- 
pated.- 

Mrs.  Williams  had  to  post  a  parcel  to  her  son 
that  morning,  a  parcel  she  did  not  care  to  trust 
to  any  one's  hands,  but  she  lingered,  loath  to 
leave  Alice  in  her  nervous  condition. 

"I  am  too  foolish,"  said  Alice.  "Go,  dear, 
and  mail  your  parcel ;  I  will  pay  Mrs.  Neale  a 
visit  while  you're  gone,"  and  in  a  few  minutes 
Mrs.  Williams  took  her  departure. 

Alice  was  standing  at  a  book-shelf,  with  her 
back  to  the  open  window  which  faced  on  to  the 
conservatory,  when  the  sound  of  a  footfall 
made  her  turn  round.  To  her  dismay  she  saw 
Tom  Ashland  coming  through  the  window. 

"  I  frightened  you  yesterday  ;  I  know  I  did," 
said  he.  "  I  have  been  thinking  a  great  deal 
since." 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  209 

"  Will  you  not  sit  clown,  Thomas  ? "  said 
Alice,  feeling-  that  a  crisis  was  at  hand. 

"  No  ;  there  is  no  use  in  sitting-  down  ;  I  can- 
not rest.  I  must  end  all  this.  I  shall  never 
leave  off  drinking- ;  I  know  it.  I  shall  go  down 
— down  !  Now,  I  am  determined  that  shall 
never  he.  I  was  awfully  tempted  to  finish 
Neale  as  I  went  by  and  saw  him."  A  terrible, 
fierce,  wild  look  came  into  his  eyes.  "  But  I 
had  a  duty  to  accomplish,  and  I  resisted — I  re- 
sisted !  Alice,  life  is  hard  on  us  both.  I  will 
deliver  us  both.  Look  here  !  "  He  drew  from 
his  pocket  a  revolver,  while  Alice  stood  petri- 
fied with  terror,  yet  keeping-  her  wits  about 
her,  knowing-  that  her  first  move  meant  death. 
"This  will  end  all  our  troubles.  You  mustn't 
be  frightened,  my  dear;  it  will  not  hurt  you.  I 
know  the  spot,  and  all  I  have  to  do  is  to  touch 
the  trigger  and  off  you  go  ;  then  I'll  send  a 
bullet  through  my  own  brain  and  join  you. 
Don't  look  at  the  door.  I'd  be  sorry  to  hurt 
you,  but  if  you  try  to  get  away  I  will.  I  will 
never  let  you  out  of  this  alive." 

"I  am  not  going,"  said  Alice,  with  marvel- 
ous, desperate  self-control.  "1  think  your 
plan   is  a  good   one,  for  hfe  is   so   puzzling." 

The  unfortunate  madman's  countenance  re- 
laxed. "  Ah,  that  is  right.  You  are  true  after 
all;  come!  " 

"  One  thing,  however,  I  must  do  before — be- 
fore we  die.  I  promised  Father  Ignatius  of  the 
Mission  to  bring  over  the  picture  of  the  infant 
St.  John  this  morning.  You  or  I  must  take  it, 
for  I  cannot  break  my  word  at  such  a  time." 


210  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

''Ah,  perhaps;  yes,  you  ought  not.  Well, 
get  the  picture  and  I  will  wait  till  you  return. 
Don't  be  long,  for  I'm  anxious  we  should  be  off." 

Alice  opened  the  door,  went  out,  and  then 
fled  wildly  along  the  veranda — not  into  the 
house,  not  to  call  assistance,  but  to  Harold 
Neale's  room.  She  felt  sure  that  Ashland 
would  rush  to  wreak  vengeance  either  on  her 
or  his  supposed  rival. 

Harold  was  writing,  as  he  often  did,  at  a 
table  beside  the  window,  which  was  open.  He 
was  resting  his  head  on  his  hands,  tihinking 
over  his  mother's  advice  and  balancing  the 
pros  and  cons,  when  Alice,  white  as  death,  her 
eyes  wild  with  terror,  flew  into  the  room. 

Harold  started  up,  his  first  idea  being  that 
she  was  making  her  escape  from  danger  or 
pursuit ;  but  before  he  could  speak  she  began  in 
frantic  haste  to  close  the  window,  then  the 
shutters,  w^hile  she  kept  repeating  :  ''Lock  the 
door— bolt  it !     Oh,  do— do  lock  it !  " 

"  What  is  the  matter,  for  Heaven's  sake  ?  " 
cried  Harold.  "  My  dear  Miss  Ashland,  you  are 
safe  with  me." 

"No — no  !  I  want  to  save  you  !  He  will  mur- 
der you  !  Oh,  come  back  into  the  corner  !  Do 
not  hold  me  :  I  must  fasten  the  door  !  "  Then, 
leaning  back  against  it  exhausted,  she  went  on  : 
"  He  is  mad — quite  mad,  Thomas  is.  He  wanted 
to  murder  me ;  he  was  very  near  murdering  you. 
Her  will  come  now  ;  he  has  a  horrible  revolver." 

Here  a  step  was  heard  in  the  passage.  Quite 
beside  herself  with  fear,  Alice  darted  to  Harold 
and  threw  her  arms  around  him. 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  211 

"  He  is  coming" — he  is  coming- !  "  she  whis- 
pered, as  she  clung-  to  him. 

"Dearest,"  said  Harald,  straining  her  to  his 
heart,  "you  will  be  ill.  Let  me  take  you  to 
my  mother.  If  your  cousin  is  mad,  he  must  he 
prevented  from  doing-  mischief  to  himself  or 
others.  You  are  trembling — you  can  hardly 
stand,"  and  he  tried  to  lift  her,  but  she  evaded 
him. 

''I  will  not  let  you  g-o,"  she  said,  faintly. 
"  He  will  murder  you.     I  will  not  let  you  go." 

"  Ashland  is  not  coming-  here,"  said  Harold  ; 
''he  would  have  been  here  before.  Let  me  take 
you  away;  I  must  know  what  is  g-oing-  on." 
Still  supporting  her,  he  opened  the  door.  All 
was  quiet,  but  a  distant  buzz  of  talk  came  from 
the  hall. 

''You  must  come  upstairs.  You  shall  be 
safe  with  my  mother.     I  will  see  to  it." 

Half  leading-,  half  carrjang-  her,  Harold  took 
Alice  with  infinite  care  to  his  mother. 

"She  has  had  an  awful  frig-ht,"  he  said; 
"get  her  some  wine.  I  scarcely  know  what  is 
the  matter,  but  don't  leave  her,  I  shall  return 
when  I  find  Mrs.  Williams." 

"  My  dear  child,  you  are  more  dead  than 
alive,"  cried  Mrs.  Neale.  "Put  her  on  the 
lounge,  Harold." 

Alice  could  not  speak.  She  tried  still  to  hold 
Neale,  but  he,  gently  kissing  her  hand,  disen- 
gaged himself  and  hurried  away. 

In  the  hall  he  found  Mrs.  Jarrett  and  all  the 
servants  talking  eagerly.  "Oh,  Mr,  Neale  !  " 
said   the   lady   of  the  house,  "we   are   all   so 


212  ALICE   ASHLAND. 

frig-htened.  Jim  here — the  stable-boy — about 
ten  minutes  ag-o  saw  Mr.  Ashland  without  his 
hat,  and  a  great  pistol  in  his  hand,  tearing- 
across  the  lawn  as  hard  as  he  could,  and  look- 
ing- quite  wild." 

''Indeed!"  cried  Harold.  '' What  direction 
did  he  take  ?  " 

"  He  turned  right,  and  ran  straight  toward 
the  beach,"  said  the  bo3^  ''  He  seemed  to 
come  from  Miss  Ashland's  room." 

"  Heavens  !  I  hope  he  hasn't  hurt  the  dear 
young  lady,"  cried  Mrs.  Jarrett,  fussing  away 
in  the  direction  of  her  room. 

''My  mother  has  Miss  Ashland  quite  safe," 
said  Harold,  reaching  his  hat  and  going  out 
to  see  what  had  become  of  the  madman. 

When  Mrs.  Williams  returned  she  found 
everything  topsy-turv3^  and  when  she  heard 
of  Ashland's  mad  act  her  dismaj^  can  be  im- 
agined. It  was  some  little  time  before  Alice 
could  speak  calmly  to  Harold.  She  felt  cer- 
tain that  in  her  intense  excitement  she  had  be- 
trayed herself. 

"How  is  my  poor  cousin  ?  "  she  said  to  Mrs. 
Neale,  who  was  sitting  with  her. 

"My  dear,  I'm  afraid  his  is  a  hopeless  case. 
He  was  last  seen  tearing  toward  the  pier, 
and  " — but  looking  toward  the  door — "  here  is 
Harold." 

As  she  spoke  Harold  Neale  entered  the  room. 
It  was  a  moment  of  profound  embarrassment. 

"I  am  sorry  to  see  that  you  have  not  quite 
recovered    the    dreadful  shock   you  have   sus- 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  213 

tained ;  and  you  must  brace  j^ourself  for  an- 
other." 

''  What  do  j^ou  mean  ?  "'  cried  Alice. 

"  Your  cousin^  poor  fellow,  I'm  heartily  sorry 
for  him  ;  but  perhaps  it  is  for  the  best.  Mine 
is  an  un^ateful  task,  but  you  had  better  hear 
it  from  one  who  loves  you  than  from  a  stranger. 
Your  cousin,  after  leaving-  your  room,  rushed 
down  to  the  beach,  revolver  in  hand.  Several 
men  tried  to  capture  him,  but  he  flourished  his 
weapon  and  fled.  On  reaching  the  beach  he 
mounted  the  pier,  where  the  fishing  boats  are, 
and  ran  along  it.  When  he  reached  the  end 
of  it  he  turned  for  a  moment,  placed  the  pistol 
to  his  head,  fired  and  fell  backward  into  the 
water.  The  fishermen  recovered  the  body  and 
an  inquest  will  be  held." 

There  was  a  long  silence. 

''  Heaven  have  mercy  on  him ! "  sighed 
Alice,  at  last,  resuming  her  seat  on  the  lounge. 
''But  it  will  be  long  before  I  can  forget  this 
dreadful  day.  Poor  Cousin  Thomas  !  my  heart 
aches  for  him  ;  but  better  dead  than  mad." 

"  Yes,  poor  fellow  !  "  said  Harold.  "  But  I 
want  to  speak  of  something  else,  even  at  this 
awful  time — something  which  concerns  the  fut- 
ure of  my  life.  You  know  what  it  is.  I  have 
longed  for  weary  months  to  say  :  '  Alice,  I  love 
you.'  I  almost  despaired,  when  something  in 
your  fears  for  me  to-daj^ — something  in  the 
clasp   of  your   arms— gave  me  a  faint  hope." 

He  paused,  and  Alice, "half  charmed,  half 
frightened,  made  a  little  hesitating  movement, 
as  if  to  give  him  her  hand,  and  then  drew  back. 


uie  ill  the  torture  of  snp< 

''I  .hMVj.>  been  vexed  V. ., ,  ......  '  ..-...,.     * 

with  natural  sweet  franlmo!,s  " m^d  I  am 
most  ashamed  to  sri^  ''"'•"  I 'ut  I  will  <  '•  ■ 
Wlicn  3'ou  went  h  'ekskiU  ff 

cai-'o  I  was  sor.v.  v.f;u  always  .-.-•, 
true-  and  earnest — ax-en)  f;-iond  --riii<l  J.  sr. ' 
wa.s  sorry.  Then  Mrs.  C'raven  told  m<^  yotl  t 
plt^ased  to  go  B(.-cause~beca.Llse  you  Lhougii 
was  in  lovi'  with  you  and  showed  ib  toe  mi^: 

^•'It  was  an  infernal  lie,"  cried  Harold,  . 
more  energy  than  po]it<?uess,  "invented  h. 
unset  upnlous  woman  !  Look  in  niv  eyes,  A 
and  tell  me  whom  you  believe — Mrs.  Cmvr 
I  am  iiicapablo  of  rnal'livfr  P'lch'  '^^  sp 


me 


about  any  v/oinan. 

8iv3  raised  her  <■  ^  r^-  iohi'- 
•>uii1e  broke  o  ..Mi  is^»ui, 

low  and  stead' 

••'I  believe  you. 

"Then  one  diilkulty  ' 
have  loved  you  almost  iroui  the  bc^uinuv 
our  acquaintance' :  c:  u  \id  ^r.w   mj    ;i    '■*  'i 
return?  '■ 

He  hoi ^-i    M..    ^    ■ 
into  it. 

''Dea^;^^l.^  ...  ..■-.:;..  ;■  > -.  j...:.  ■■  • 
around  me  ar;d  say  :  'Harold,  l.lov 
r*  •  ;'-'  -vi  -v.:s  to  his  neck  and   t.:,. 

:  passioTtate  force.    "\' 


ALICE   ASHLAND.  215 

terance  ;  past,  present  and  future  all  merged  in 
that  intense  moment. 

Mrs.  Craven  was  seated  in  the  drawing'-room 
of  her  Twenty-first  Street  mansion,  New  York, 
reading  the  latest  society  novel,  when  her  hus- 
band, the  gallant  major,  entered  somewhat  ab- 
ruptly. "  Well,  Mary,  my  dear,  I  told  you  and 
that  fool  of  a  brother  of  5^0 urs  that  it  was  an 
evil  day  for  him,  though  a  day  of  blessing  for 
her,  when  he  broke  off  his  engagement  to  Alice 
Ashland." 

.  ''  Why,  my  dear  husband,  you  couldn't  ex- 
pect poor  Wilfred  to  marry  on  nothing." 

''  Poor  Wilfred — bah  !  With  all  respect  to 
you,  my  love,  all  my  sympathies  were  with 
Miss  Ashland,  and"  I  think  Heaven  itself  must 
have  interfered  to  save  her  from  a  fellow  con- 
tent to  live  off  the  crumbs  that  fall  from  my 
table.  Read  that."  He  thrust  a  newspaper 
into  her  hand  ;  it  wa^  the  latest  San  Francisco 
Examiner. 

The  leading  page  had  a  column  headed  with 
the  startling  headlines  : 

"  Suicide  of  a  Millionaire. — Mr.  Thomas  Ash- 
land Suicides  at  Montewey  after  Attempting  the 
-Life  of  His  Cousin. — Sensational  Scenes  at  the 
Mission  House,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  article  then  went  on  to  detail  with  the 
minuteness  which  h?is  made  the  Examiner 
famous  on  the  Pacific  Slope  the  account  of  the 
tragedy  with  which  the  reader  is  acquainted, 
and  closed  with  stating:  *'It  is  rumored  that 
Miss  Ashland,  who  inherits  his  vast  estate,  will 


.-  iisa. 


■J.icio 


with 


fis 

mi 


